Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.2 percent in July, according to the Department of Labor & Industry, compared to June, marking the lowest rate since May 2007.
The civilian labor force rose by 7,000 in July. A 15,000 gain in employment outweighed an 8,000 decline in the ranks of the unemployed.
Nonfarm jobs increased by 15,000 from June, reaching 6.02 million positions. Since July 2017, nonfarm jobs have increased by more than 71,900 positions, a 1.2 percent jump.
The industries with the most significant gains were leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services sectors. The construction, manufacturing and trade, transportation, and utility industries decreased.
“Since 2005, the unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has ranged from 3.6 percent in April 2000 to 9.5 percent in January 2010,” according to Homefacts.
Unemployment peaked at 8.8 percent in February 2010, and the number of unemployed people rose the following month to a high of 560,494 individuals, according to Department of Numbers.
June’s unemployment rate was 4 percent compared to 3.8 percent in May. The unemployment rate has dropped six-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Nationally, employment grew up 1.6 percent in July, and unemployment was 3.9 percent.