Like much of the country, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California have been watching unemployment rise, particularly with the layoffs of 700 workers from Abbott Laboratories in Temecula and 600 workers from National RV Holdings in Perris. Most of the jobs cut were manufacturing jobs, and while workers in that field are often in demand, companies have already begun slowing things down for winter. And that means fewer workers are needed.

Specifically, the unemployment rate in the Inland Empire has risen from 4.7% to 6.1%. Because of this, many workers are seeking help from the Riverside Workforce Development Center. On average, 100 people come to the office each day, a slightly higher number than it is used to seeing.

"There are a lot of people coming in from the layoffs in the mortgage and housing industry, as well as National RV and Abbott," said Patrick Ramos, regional manager for Riverside Workforce.

The Inland Empire hasn't suffered job cuts like these since 2002, when 1,000 workers lost their jobs after Consolidated Freightways closed in Mira Loma.

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