The Department of Labor & Industry Friday reported Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in September, down one-tenth of a percentage point from August.
Pennsylvania's rate was two-tenths of a percentage point above the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent, which was unchanged from August.
The Commonwealth's rate was also 5.3 percent in September 2014 while the national rate declined by eight-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Pennsylvania's civilian labor force was down 7,000 in September to 6,409,000. Both resident employment and unemployment were down for the month.
Total nonfarm jobs were down 16,400 in September to 5,840,300. Both public and private sector jobs declined from August. Education & health services and government had the largest declines, with the educational components of each super-sector accounting for most of the overall September job loss. Leisure & hospitality (+8,000) showed the largest gain.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 38,000 (+0.7%). Construction, leisure & hospitality, and trade, transportation & utilities each added at least 10,000 jobs over the past year.
