Temecula had a preliminary jobless rate of 8.7 percent in August, compared to 8.9 percent in July and 9.8 percent one year ago.
Payroll gains in all but a couple of sectors pushed Riverside County's unemployment rate down last month, state officials reported today.
The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in August, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.7 percent, compared to 13 percent in July, according to the California Employment Development Department.
The countywide rate was almost two percentage points below the level of a year ago, when unemployment stood at 14.3 percent.
Preliminary unemployment data showed 2,400 people—8.4 percent—were out of work in Murrieta during August. The number was two-tenths of a percentage point less than July's rate of 8.6 percent and nearly a full percentage point below the August 2011 rate of 9.5 percent.
Temecula had a preliminary jobless rate of 8.7 percent in August, compared to 8.9 percent in July and 9.8 percent one year ago.
The countywide rate was almost two percentage points below the level of a year ago, when unemployment stood at 14.3 percent.
Riverside County's civilian labor force numbered 943,300 people, with 119,900 out of work, according to figures.
The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 30.8 percent, followed by Mecca at 25 percent and Homeland at 24.5 percent, according to the EDD.
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in August was 12.3 percent, up from 12.7 percent the prior month.
Bi-county data indicated that payrolls expanded in all but the construction and business services sectors, which shed a total 2,000 jobs in August.
The public sector posted the largest increase -- 8,000 positions -- mainly in education, as teachers and other school workers returned to the workforce following summer recess.
More than 4,000 jobs were added in manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities and education and health services, data showed.
The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 10.4 percent.
Nationwide, 8.1 percent were without work during August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment increased in food services and drinking places, in professional and technical services, and in health care, the BLS reported.
