Unemployment claims in Pennsylvania have seen an increase, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The number of new jobless claims in the state rose to 9,507 for the week ending August 31, up from 8,807 the previous week. This data serves as an indicator of layoffs across the state.
Despite the rise in Pennsylvania, the overall number of unemployment claims across the U.S. dropped during the same week. The Labor Department reported a decrease to 227,000 last week, down 5,000 claims from 232,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The increase in Pennsylvania's unemployment claims contrasts with trends in other states. For instance, Rhode Island saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 43.3%. On the other hand, North Dakota experienced the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 68.8%.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is expected to release more detailed statistics later this month. Times Online and WCCS Radio provided additional context for this report.