Lakeland Village Shows Greatest Improvement In Unemployment Figures

Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Lakeland Village are continuing to see improvement in unemployment numbers, state officials reported Friday.

In each of the cities and the unincorporated area, the non-seasonally adjusted jobless rates in December 2012 were more than a percentage point lower than  a year ago, based on preliminary estimates, according to the California Employment Development Department.

In Lake Elsinore, the December 2012 non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.7 percent compared to 12 percent a year ago, the state agency reported.

Wildomar’s December 2012 non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 9.7 percent compared to 10.9 percent a year ago, according to the state agency.

Lakeland Village saw the greatest improvement. The December 2012 non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 17.6 percent compared to 19.6 percent a year ago, the state agency reported.

The December 2012 numbers were also down from the prior month. according to the state agency.

Riverside County's unemployment rate fell nearly half a percentage point last month as all but a couple of sectors of the regional economy added jobs or were unchanged, state officials also reported Friday.

The county's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in December, based on preliminary estimates, was 11.1 percent, compared to 11.5 percent in November, according to the state officials.

The rate was more than a percentage point below the level of a year ago, when unemployment stood at 12.4 percent.

The civilian labor force numbered 946,700 people, with 104,800 out of work, according to figures.

The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 27.6 percent, followed by Mecca at 22.2 percent and Homeland at 21.7 percent, according to the EDD.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in December was 10.9 percent, down from 11.3 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded significantly in trade, transportation and utilities, which added 3,600 jobs.

The farm sector, educational and health services and the leisure and hospitality industry posted moderate gains, altogether totaling more than 3,000 positions.

Payrolls shrank in construction, as well as professional and business services, which shed a combined 1,800 jobs, according to data.

The public sector shrank by 1,200 jobs, reflecting holiday breaks at schools and other government institutions.

The state's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 9.7 percent. --City News Service contributed to this report.