Region’s 65,100 jobs top pre-pandemic level

Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ bosses added 5,200 workers in June, bringing employment to 104% of pre-pandemic levels.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 1.65 million workers — up 92,500 in 12 months. June employment was 65,100 above February 2020, the last month before COVID-19 arrived on the economic scene.

Job growth is moderating, however, as the Federal Reserve tries to cool an overheated economy and many bosses struggle to fill open positions. June’s hiring pace in Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 50% slower than the 10,300 average workers added monthly in the pandemic era’s employment rebound. But please note: Bosses added workers at a 4,100 monthly pace in 2015-19 before coronavirus cratered the economy.

The Inland Empire’s unemployment rate was 4% in June compared with 3.4% in the previous month; 8.4% a year earlier; and 3.9% in February 2020.

Clearly, the region’s logistics industry is leading the way. Employment at businesses in the transportation/warehouse industry was at 137% of pre-coronavirus jobs, with 209,000 workers in June. That’s up 56,100 from February 2020 after adding 1,100 last month vs. jobs growing 2,400 monthly in the recovery.

Here’s how employment fared in other key industries in Riverside

and San Bernardino counties since coronavirus shocked the economy, ranked by jobs recovery …

Restaurants: Last month was 106% of pre-pandemic jobs, with 146,200 workers. That’s up 8,200 from February 2020 after adding 1,500 last month vs. jobs growing 2,300 monthly in the recovery.

Business services: 105% of pre-coronavirus jobs, with 172,000 workers. That’s up 7,800 from February 2020 after dropping 300 last month vs. jobs growing 1,300 monthly in the recovery.

Construction, real estate, finance: 102% of pre-pandemic staffing, with 148,000 workers. That’s up 3,600 from February 2020 after dropping 400 last month vs. jobs growing 900 monthly in the recovery.

Health care, personal services: 102% of pre-coronavirus jobs, with 241,600 workers. That’s up 3,900 from February 2020 after dropping 600 last month vs. jobs growing 900 monthly in the recovery.

Retailing: 101% of pre-virus employment, with 179,200 workers. That’s up 2,200 from February 2020 after dropping 2,300 last month vs. jobs growing 1,200 monthly in the recovery.

Manufacturing: 99% of previrus employment, with 99,200 workers. That’s up 900 from February 2020 after adding 1,300 last month vs. jobs growing 300 monthly in the recovery.

Government: 97% of pre-pandemic staffing, with 257,600 workers. That’s up 8,200 from February 2020 after adding 1,800 last month vs. jobs dipping 100 monthly in the recovery.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 87% of pre-pandemic staffing, with 19,500 workers. That’s up 2,800 from February 2020 after dropping 200 last month vs. jobs growing 400 monthly in the recovery.

Hotels: 81% of pre-virus employment, with 15,300 workers. That’s up 3,500 from February 2020 after adding 300 last month vs. jobs growing 200 monthly in the recovery.

PS: Bosses in the four-county Southern California region in June had 4.51 million workers — 106,000 below February 2020 or 97.7% of pre-pandemic employment.