INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – New unemployment figures show that the Inland Empire wound-up 2020 with the first increase in 6-months.

The State Employment Development Department (EDD) put the 2-county rate for December at 9.1%. That compares to 7.9 percent for November and 3.5% in December 2019.

There was a marked difference among the Inland Empire cities with the highest and lowest jobless rates.

Riverside County: Canyon Lake 4.6% - Coachella 15.2%.
San Bernardino County: Loma Linda 6% - Adelanto 18.5%

Across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, 190,400 were looking for work in December.

During 2020, there was a job loss of 111,500 jobs. The sole industry sector to advance employment levels over the year was construction (up 2,700).

Story Date: January 29, 2021