Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained at 3.4 percent in October, according to Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s (L&I) preliminary employment situation report released on Friday.
The estimated number of residents working or looking for work, called the civilian labor force, was 2,000 people higher than September. This is attributed to gains of 1,000 in both resident employment and unemployment.
Nonfarm jobs decreased 4,700 compared to September, totaling 6.2 million. Jobs increased in six of the 11 industry super sectors. The fastest-growing industries are education and health services, growing at record highs, followed by trade, transportation & utilities; professional & business services; and government.
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm jobs increased 129,200 with gains in 10 of the 11 super sectors. The largest increases over the past year occurred in the education and health services sectors.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in September and 3.9 percent in October. The civilian labor force was 1.9 percent higher.
Most industries have returned to prepandemic levels, the exception being leisure and hospitality. The largest sector nationally to rebound is business services.
A year ago, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent while Pennsylvania’s was 4.4 percent.