PA Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.5% in May
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its employment situation report for May 2016.
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point from April to 5.5 percent. Pennsylvania's rate remained above that of the United States, which was down three-tenths of a percentage point to 4.7 percent. The commonwealth's rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point since May 2015 while the national rate declined by eight-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Pennsylvania's civilian labor force was up 15,000 in May to a record high of 6,541,000. Resident employment declined by 2,000 while the unemployment count increased by 17,000.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased 10,200 to 5,871,000. Seven of the eleven supersectors declined in May, with five down by at least 2,000 jobs. The largest drop was in information (-4,500), which was directly impacted by the strike at Verizon. The strongest gain was in education & health services (+3,400), which rose to its highest point on record.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 39,200 (+0.7%). Despite the overall increase, six of the eleven supersectors jobs were down from May 2015. The largest increase from last year was in education & health services (+26,100), while the largest decline was in mining & logging (-8,900).
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sara Goulet, 717-787-7530
Editor's Note: A breakdown of Pennsylvania's employment statistics follows.
Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
| May 2016 |
April 2016 |
May 2015 |
Change from April 2016 |
Change from May 2015 |
|||
| volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
||||
| PA |
|||||||
| Civilian Labor Force |
6,541 |
6,526 |
6,419 |
15 |
0.2% |
122 |
1.9% |
| Employment |
6,180 |
6,182 |
6,086 |
-2 |
0.0% |
94 |
1.5% |
| Unemployment |
361 |
344 |
332 |
17 |
4.9% |
29 |
8.7% |
| Rate |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
0.2 |
---- |
0.3 |
---- |
| U.S. |
|||||||
| Civilian Labor Force |
158,466 |
158,924 |
157,367 |
-458 |
-0.3% |
1,099 |
0.7% |
| Employment |
151,030 |
151,004 |
148,748 |
26 |
0.0% |
2,282 |
1.5% |
| Unemployment |
7,436 |
7,920 |
8,619 |
-484 |
-6.1% |
-1,183 |
-13.7% |
| Rate |
4.7 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
-0.3 |
---- |
-0.8 |
---- |
Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
| May 2016 |
April 2016 |
May 2015 |
Change from April 2016 |
Change from May 2015 |
|||
| volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
||||
| Total Nonfarm Jobs |
5,871.0 |
5,881.2 |
5,831.8 |
-10.2 |
-0.2% |
39.2 |
0.7% |
| Goods Producing Industries |
823.7 |
826.7 |
839.5 |
-3.0 |
-0.4% |
-15.8 |
-1.9% |
| Mining & Logging |
25.9 |
26.7 |
34.8 |
-0.8 |
-3.0% |
-8.9 |
-25.6% |
| Construction |
231.9 |
234.8 |
234.8 |
-2.9 |
-1.2% |
-2.9 |
-1.2% |
| Manufacturing |
565.9 |
565.2 |
569.9 |
0.7 |
0.1% |
-4.0 |
-0.7% |
| Service Providing Industries |
5,047.3 |
5,054.5 |
4,992.3 |
-7.2 |
-0.1% |
55.0 |
1.1% |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities |
1,132.4 |
1,135.3 |
1,121.8 |
-2.9 |
-0.3% |
10.6 |
0.9% |
| Information |
82.7 |
87.2 |
84.9 |
-4.5 |
-5.2% |
-2.2 |
-2.6% |
| Financial Activities |
316.4 |
318.1 |
316.5 |
-1.7 |
-0.5% |
-0.1 |
0.0% |
| Professional & Business Services |
787.1 |
785.0 |
774.0 |
2.1 |
0.3% |
13.1 |
1.7% |
| Education & Health Services |
1,216.4 |
1,213.0 |
1,190.3 |
3.4 |
0.3% |
26.1 |
2.2% |
| Leisure & Hospitality |
551.8 |
555.4 |
544.4 |
-3.6 |
-0.6% |
7.4 |
1.4% |
| Other Services |
255.6 |
257.6 |
255.9 |
-2.0 |
-0.8% |
-0.3 |
-0.1% |
| Government |
704.9 |
702.9 |
704.5 |
2.0 |
0.3% |
0.4 |
0.1% |
For a more detailed breakdown of seasonally adjusted jobs data at the sector level, please contact the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis at 1-877-4WF-DATA, or visit www.paworkstats.pa.gov
Note: June 2016 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released July 22, 2016.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article