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Pa. unemployment rate under national level

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry recently released its preliminary employment situation report for December 2024.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 3.6% in December. Still, the commonwealth’s rate remained well under the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.1%, which was down one-tenth of a point from its November level.

The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was two-tenths of a percentage point above the December 2023 level of 3.4%, 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 – was down 17,000 over the month to 6,490,000 in December. Resident employment (-23,000) drove the decline while unemployment (+6,000) rose over the month.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 13,700 over the month to a record high 6,229,800 in December. Jobs increased from November in 10 of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest supersector movement was a gain of 5,300 in education and health services. Education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and other services reached record high job levels in December.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 114,700 with gains in nine of the 11 supersectors. Education and health services (+51,600) had the largest volume over-the-year gain.

More information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following the department on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.