Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate at 4.2 percent in November

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) recently released its employment situation report for November 2018, which reported an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent in Pennsylvania.

The unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point from October to November. It was the first over-the-month increase in the unemployment rate since July 2016. The unemployment rate decreased by six-tenths of a percentage point from November 2017.

The civilian labor force, the estimated number of Pennsylvania residents working or looking for work, was up 21,000 over the month. The number of employed Pennsylvanians increased by 17,000 to a record high of 6,172,000. The number of unemployed residents was up 3,000 from October but was down 40,000 from last November.

The estimated number of jobs in the state, referred to as total nonfarm jobs, was down 5,400 in November to 6,055,500.

Among the 11 industry supersectors in the report, five showed increases over the month. Construction showed the largest monthly gain and reached its highest level since May 2008. Mining & logging saw the largest percentage gain, plus one percent.

Over the last 12 months, jobs increased 1.3 percent in the commonwealth with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors. Professional & business services saw the largest volume 12-month gain. Nationally, jobs were up 1.7 percent during this period.