Fewer Jobs, Higher Unemployment in PA
The statewide job count fell by 2,600 in June, and the unemployment rate rose to 7.6%. That’s up from 7.4% statewide unemployment in May. The state Department of Labor & Industry reports biggest hits came in the service providing supersectors. For instance, 7,800 education & health services jobs were lost last month. The financial activities supersector lost 2,000 jobs.
The bright spot in Pennsylvania’s June jobs report comes from the goods producing supersectors. Construction added 1,100 jobs. Manufacturing added 2,000 jobs.
Despite the net loss of jobs from month-to-month, Pennsylvania is still home to 46,400 more jobs today than this time last year. Also, today’s jobless rate is still much better than last June’s 8.7% statewide mark.
The nation’s June jobs report was similarly bad. The nationwide unemployment rate now stands at 9.2%.
