Temecula's Jobless Rate Continues To Shrink

Temecula's unemployment rate continues to drop, state officials reported today.

The city's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in August, based on preliminary estimates, was 7.4 percent, compared to 7.6 percent in July, according to the California Employment Development Department.

With gains in almost every sector of the regional economy, Riverside County's unemployment rate dropped last month below 11 percent, according to the EDD numbers.

The county's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in August, based on preliminary estimates, was 10.8 percent, compared to 11.1 percent in July, according to the EDD.

The rate was 2.2 percentage points below the level of August 2012, when unemployment stood at 13 percent.

The civilian labor force last month numbered 937,100 people, with 101,600 out of work, the EDD's figures show.

The unincorporated community of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 27.1 percent, followed by Mecca at 21.8 percent and Homeland at 21.3 percent, according to the EDD.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in August was 10.4 percent, down from 11 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded or remained unchanged in all but three sectors. The public sector showed the most growth, adding 5,400 positions, mainly in educational services as teachers and other school staffers returned from summer recess.

The construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, business services and health services sectors altogether added 9,900 positions, according to the EDD.

The farming sector posted the sharpest decline last month, shedding 2,600 positions. The leisure and hospitality industry and uncategorized services reported 1,200 jobs lost in August.

The state's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate last month was 8.8 percent, according to the EDD. --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.