January 20, 2017

PA Unemployment Rate Declines Slightly In December

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from November to 5.6 percent, according to the Department of Labor and Industry. 
          Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force was down 19,000 over the month to 6,510,000. Resident employment decreased by 12,000 and the unemployment count declined by 7,000.
          Total nonfarm jobs were down 1,200 to 5,900,100 in December. Seven of the eleven supersectors had drops. The largest volume movement was in professional & business services (-6,200), which declined from a record high in November.
          Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 32,000 (+0.5%). Seven supersectors added jobs from last December. The largest increase over the past twelve months was in education & health services (+23,500), while the largest decline was in mining & logging (-7,600).