The most recent release of the State of California Employment Development Department’s unemployment figures (October) indicate that the local unemployment rate stands at 9.0%, a number that has not been seen in Rancho Cucamonga since December 2009. Although the unemployment rate is still considered to be above normal for the community’s average of three to four percent, many nearby communities continue to experience double digit rates, as does the County of San Bernardino (13.7%) and the State of California (12%) as a whole.

Throughout California, however, there was an increase in jobs in October according to the EDD. The largest job gain was in professional and business services (14,800). Three additional industry sectors gained more than 5,000 jobs in October: trade, transportation, and utilities (7,600); manufacturing (7,100); and educational and health services (5,200). Each of the remaining industry sectors that gained jobs in October added more than 2,000 jobs: leisure and hospitality (4,400), government (2,800), construction (2,500), and other services (2,100).

Rancho Cucamonga has also seen a 76% increase in new business startups in October over the previous month and a 177% increase in the number of new businesses launched in the City compared to October of 2009. These business start-ups may account for some of the positive impact on local unemployment rates. Additionally, the City continues to see signs of interest from companies seeking potential Rancho Cucamonga locations, with some companies relocating from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

In an ongoing effort to assist in matching local job seekers with Rancho Cucamonga employment opportunities, the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency makes new job listings available on its website through its “Rancho Job Shop” web page, which can be accessed at http://www.RCRDA.us/Jobs. The Agency also provides a free weekly job alert service that sends subscribers listings of new employment opportunities every Wednesday. The “Notify Me” job alert service provides updates by email or text message and job seekers can sign up at http://www.RCRDA.us/Alerts.

Source – Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency http://www.rcrda.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=189