Unemployment Edges Up In Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Lakeland Village

Unemployment rates in Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Lakeland Village edged up slightly last month, in line with an uptick for the county and state, according to the California Economic Development Department.

Lake Elsinore’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in March, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.4 percent, compared to 12.3 percent in February and 12.1 percent in January.

However, the numbers show improvement over last year when the March 2011 unemployment rate was 13.2 percent in Lake Elsinore.

Wildomar’s numbers paint a similar picture. The city’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in March, based on preliminary estimates, was 11.3 percent, compared to 11.2 percent in February and 11 percent in January. In March 2011, Wildomar’s unemployment rate was 12 percent.

Lakeland Village’s jobless numbers are still well above county and state averages, but showed a similar upward tick. The community’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate last month, based on preliminary estimates, was 20.1 percent, compared to 19.9 percent in February and 19.7 percent in January. In March 2011, the Lakeland Village unemployment rate was 21.3 percent.

The unemployment rate in Riverside County edged up last month as well, as payroll increases throughout the regional economy were largely offset by losses in key industries.

The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in March, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.8 percent, compared to 12.7 percent in February.

However, the county unemployment rate was nearly 1 percentage point below the year-ago level, when the rate was 13.6 percent.

EDD calculated a preliminary non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 8.5 percent in Murrieta last month, up from 8.4 percent in February but down from 9 percent a year ago.

For Temecula in March, a preliminary jobless rate of 8.7 percent was calculated, up from 8.6 percent in February.

And in Menifee, a preliminary 13.7 percent were unemployed last month, up from 13.5 percent in February.

The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 31 percent last month, followed by Mecca at 25.1 percent and Homeland at 24.6, according to the EDD.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in March was 12.7 percent, up from 12.5 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated six sectors posted job gains totaling around 6,000. However, the cumulative loss last month totaled nearly the same number.

The construction and manufacturing sectors, along with trade, transportation and utilities, contracted. Analysts identify these sectors as key drivers of economic growth in the region.

The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 11.5 percent last month.