Department of Numbers

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Riverside rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 5.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Riverside peaked in April 2020 at 15.7% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.2 percentage points. You can also compare Riverside unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
California 4.9% +0.1 +0.8
Riverside 5.0% +0.1 +1.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Riverside, California, National

Riverside, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Riverside, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Riverside peaked in April 2020 at 322,809. There are now 215,183 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 82,601 in July 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 25,025. Riverside employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Riverside, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Riverside 107,626 +2,462 +21,742

Number of Unemployed Persons

Riverside, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Riverside
Unemployment Rate
Riverside
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.9% 5.0% 107,626
October
2023
3.8% 4.8% 4.9% 105,164
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 4.8% 102,761
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 4.7% 100,556
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 4.6% 98,900
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 4.6% 98,487
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 4.5% 96,777
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 4.3% 93,539
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.2% 91,800
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.1% 89,043
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.0% 86,785

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.