Payroll gains overcame losses last month across the regional economy, pushing Riverside County’s unemployment rate slightly lower, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in August, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 6.3%, compared to 6.5% in July.

According to figures, the August rate was a tenth of a percentage point higher than the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment then stood at 6.2%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 6.1%, down from 6.4% in July, the EDD stated.

Data showed Cherry Valley had the highest unemployment rate countywide in August at 12.9%, followed by Coachella at 12.5%, Rancho Mirage at 10%, Valle Vista at 9.1% a

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