Inland Empire adds 5,700 jobs in June, biggest leap since November

Workers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in June enjoyed the largest job growth in seven months.

Bosses in the two counties had 1.71 million workers in June – up 5,700 in a month, the largest gain since November, says new data from California’s Employment Development Department.

Inland Empire jobs are up 31,100 over 12 months. That’s 1.9% one-year job growth vs. Orange County’s 1.4% and Los Angeles County’s 1.3%.

However, the region’s unemployment rate was 5.3% in June vs. 4.3% the previous month and 4.8% a year earlier. Orange County was 4% and LA was 5.9% in June.

Please note that joblessness rising in June is typical as government educators leave work for summer break.

Let’s look at the region’s job gains and losses by industry, ranked by June’s hirings …

• Construction: 118,300 jobs, up 1,400 in a month and up 1,100 in a year.
• Private Education/Health Services: 306,900 jobs, up 1,400 in a month and up 21,400 in a year.
• Wholesale Trade: 68,400 jobs, up 1,100 in a month but down 300 in a year.
• Transportation/Warehousing/Utilities: 203,700 jobs, up 1,100 in a month and up 2,200 in a year.
• Retail Trade: 180,100 jobs, up 900 in a month but down 1,200 in a year.
• Manufacturing: 96,400 jobs, up 500 in a month but down 2,500 in a year.
• Information: 13,100 jobs, up 200 in a month but down 500 in a year.
• Leisure and Hospitality: 186,400 jobs, up 100 in a month but down 1,600 in a year.
• Financial Activities: 44,400 jobs, up 100 in a month but down 400 in a year.
• Professional/Business Services: 162,700 jobs, down 700 in a month and up 600 in a year.
• Government: 275,400 jobs, off 600 in a month and up 12,300 in a year.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com