In Pennsylvania, business appears to be thriving as employment figures show positive trends. The state's unemployment rate increased slightly by one-tenth of a percent last month, reaching 3.6 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. This figure remains favorable compared to the national unemployment rate, which stood at 4.1 percent in December.
Between November and December, jobs increased in ten of Pennsylvania's eleven industry supersectors. The largest gain was in education and health services, which added 5,300 jobs. Leisure and hospitality also reached high job levels in December. Overall, Pennsylvania's total nonfarm jobs rose by 13,700 over the month, setting a record high of 6,229,800 jobs.
Over the past year, total nonfarm jobs increased by 114,700, with education and health services experiencing the largest growth, adding 51,600 jobs. The state's civilian labor force, however, saw a decline of 17,000, with resident employment dropping by 23,000 and unemployment rising by 6,000.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry noted that these figures are seasonally adjusted to provide the most accurate month-to-month comparisons. The December 2024 data is preliminary and may be subject to revision.