The Inland Empire’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2025 was 5.6%, reflecting a 0.1% decrease from the previous month’s revised 5.7%. The California unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5% in August. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1% over the month to 4.3%, which is considerably lower than that of the Inland Empire and California overall.

In August, 10,700 individuals joined the labor force, bringing the total civilian labor force in Riverside and San Bernardino to 2.25 million people. The labor force growth was driven by 16,100 additional employed residents and 5,400 fewer residents than recorded in July. The simultaneous increase in employment and decreasing unemployment represents a positive indicator for the regional economy.