Barstow unemployment at 17.2 percent

Unemployment in San Bernardino County grew slightly in October, with 14 percent of the workforce out of a job, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday.

But San Bernardino and Riverside counties added a combined 7,900 jobs and California gained 25,700 jobs in October — the first statewide net job growth since April 2008. However California’s unemployment rate is the fourth highest in the nation.

Unemployment climbed even as jobs increased in part because the pool of able-bodied workers grew. In San Bernardino and Riverside counties, 6,900 more people entered the workforce in October and two-thirds of them couldn’t find work, according to Joe Briceno with the EDD.

In Barstow, 17.2 percent — approximately 1,800 people — are looking for work. In the Lenwood area, the number was 23.9 percent, approximately 400 people.

Educational services accounted for more than half of the job gain in San Bernardino and Riverside counties by supplying 1,300 new positions in October.

Government reported the greatest gain between September and October, primarily due to 6,800 additional jobs in local government education.

The economic climate continues to burden the construction industry, which lost 1,900 jobs in October.

California unemployment rose to 12.5 percent, above national unemployment at 10.2 percent.