Pa. unemployment holds steady for eighth straight month

Unemployment remains low in Pennsylvania.

In its latest report, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reported that the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.4% in May. This was the eighth consecutive month that the state’s rate was at 3.4%.

At the same time, the national unemployment rate rose. It was up one-tenth of a percentage point from April and was at 4%.

While still low, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was one-tenth of a percentage point above its May 2023 level of 3.3%

At the same time, the national rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, which the department describes as the estimated number of residents working or looking for work, was up 9,000 over the month to a record high of 6,605,000.

The department said that is due entirely to growth in resident employment which also rose to a record high in May. Resident unemployment was unchanged from the April level.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 19,800 over the month to a record high of 6,167,700, setting the tenth consecutive record high for Pennsylvania’s jobs count.

According to the department, jobs increased from April in nine of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest movement over the month was a gain of 8,700 leisure & hospitality jobs. Education & health services reached their 12th consecutive record high.

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