The Department of Labor & Industry Friday reported Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.8 percent in March. This was the fourth consecutive decline, resulting in the lowest rate since February 2008.
The Commonwealth's rate remained above that of the United States (4.5 percent), which also decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from February. Over the year, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate declined by six-tenths of a percentage point.
Pennsylvania's civilian labor force was up 7,000 over the month to 6,442,000. Resident employment increased by 17,000 while the unemployment count declined by 9,000. March was the seventh consecutive month that posted both an increase in employment and a decrease in unemployment.
Pennsylvania's nonfarm jobs count was down 16,100 to 5,934,200 in March. Six of the eleven supersectors declined from February, with the largest drop in leisure & hospitality (-8,200). The largest volume gain was in professional & business services (+3,600).
Total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 1.0 percent (+60,600) from last March while nationally jobs were up 1.5 percent. Eight supersectors added jobs over the year. The largest increase in the past 12 months was in education & health services (+40,800), while the largest decline was in manufacturing (-6,800).
