Department of Numbers

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Riverside rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 4.8%. 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 10.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.0 percentage points. You can also compare Riverside unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
California 4.7% +0.1 +0.7
Riverside 4.8% +0.1 +0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October 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 219,752 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 20,456. Riverside employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Riverside, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Riverside 103,057 +2,501 +18,420

Number of Unemployed Persons

Riverside, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Riverside
Unemployment Rate
Riverside
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.8%
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 4.8% 103,057
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
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.9% 85,796
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.9% 85,884

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.