Pennsylvania job force soaring, unemployment remains unchanged, L&I says
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) says the state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.4% in May, unchanged from the past eight months.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.0%, a one-tenth of a percentage point increase from its April rate.
The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point from May 2023’s level of 3.3%, while the national rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – increased by 9,000 over the month to a record high of 6,605,000, mainly due to resident employment growth, which also rose to a record high in May. Resident unemployment has remained unchanged from April’s level.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs increased by 19,800 over the month to a record high of 6,167,700, setting the tenth consecutive record high for Pennsylvania’s jobs count. Out of the 11 industry supersectors in Pennsylvania, jobs increased from April in 9 of them.
The state also gained 8,700 leisure & hospitality jobs, the largest movement in May. Education & health services reached its 12th consecutive record high.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 97,100 with gains in six of the 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+61,000) had the largest volume gain among supersectors over the year.
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