Pennsylvania's Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.1 Percent in February
HARRISBURG, Pa., March 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The February employment statistics released today by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry indicate that the state's unemployment rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 8.1 in February.
Unemployment decreased 5,000 over the month to 532,000. This was the second largest decrease of the past twelve months and the fourth largest since January 2011.
Total nonfarm jobs rose by 600 in February to 5,747,100. This was the seventh consecutive monthly gain.
"We continue to see job growth in Pennsylvania," said Labor & Industry Secretary Julia Heathway. "A particularly positive sign is the February gain in manufacturing, which added 4,400 jobs."
Total nonfarm jobs were up 16,500 from a year ago. Pennsylvania's over-the-year job growth was most pronounced in the private sector. The largest gains were in professional and business services with 11,900 jobs added and education and health services with a gain of 8,100.
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.
Editor's note: A breakdown of Pennsylvania's employment statistics follows.
Media contact: Sara Goulet, 717-787-7530
Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted (in thousands)
| Change from |
Change from |
||||||
| February |
January |
February |
January 2013 |
February 2012 |
|||
| 2013 (p) |
2013 |
2012 |
volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
|
| PA |
|||||||
| Civilian Labor Force |
6,540 |
6,553 |
6,447 |
-13 |
-0.2% |
93 |
1.4% |
| Employment |
6,009 |
6,015 |
5,959 |
-6 |
-0.1% |
50 |
0.8% |
| Unemployment |
532 |
537 |
487 |
-5 |
-0.9% |
45 |
9.2% |
| Rate |
8.1 |
8.2 |
7.6 |
-0.1 |
---- |
0.5 |
---- |
| U.S. |
|||||||
| Civilian Labor Force |
155,524 |
155,654 |
154,825 |
-130 |
-0.1% |
699 |
0.5% |
| Employment |
143,492 |
143,322 |
142,019 |
170 |
0.1% |
1,473 |
1.0% |
| Unemployment |
12,032 |
12,332 |
12,806 |
-300 |
-2.4% |
-774 |
-6.0% |
| Rate |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.3 |
-0.2 |
---- |
-0.6 |
---- |
Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted (in thousands)
| Change from |
Change from |
||||||
| February |
January |
February |
January 2013 |
February 2012 |
|||
| 2013 (p) |
2013 |
2012 |
volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
|
| Total Nonfarm Jobs |
5,747.1 |
5,746.5 |
5,730.6 |
0.6 |
0.0% |
16.5 |
0.3% |
| Goods Producing Industries |
836.9 |
831.0 |
836.6 |
5.9 |
0.7% |
0.3 |
0.0% |
| Mining & Logging |
37.7 |
37.7 |
38.8 |
0.0 |
0.0% |
-1.1 |
-2.8% |
| Construction |
228.1 |
226.6 |
229.0 |
1.5 |
0.7% |
-0.9 |
-0.4% |
| Manufacturing |
571.1 |
566.7 |
568.8 |
4.4 |
0.8% |
2.3 |
0.4% |
| Service Providing Industries |
4,910.2 |
4,915.5 |
4,894.0 |
-5.3 |
-0.1% |
16.2 |
0.3% |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities |
1,108.6 |
1,106.9 |
1,101.3 |
1.7 |
0.2% |
7.3 |
0.7% |
| Information |
90.8 |
91.2 |
90.2 |
-0.4 |
-0.4% |
0.6 |
0.7% |
| Financial Activities |
307.4 |
308.0 |
308.9 |
-0.6 |
-0.2% |
-1.5 |
-0.5% |
| Professional & Business Services |
740.1 |
736.5 |
728.2 |
3.6 |
0.5% |
11.9 |
1.6% |
| Education & Health Services |
1,171.6 |
1,176.8 |
1,163.5 |
-5.2 |
-0.4% |
8.1 |
0.7% |
| Leisure & Hospitality |
515.6 |
519.6 |
521.2 |
-4.0 |
-0.8% |
-5.6 |
-1.1% |
| Other Services |
256.3 |
257.3 |
254.6 |
-1.0 |
-0.4% |
1.7 |
0.7% |
| Government |
719.8 |
719.2 |
726.1 |
0.6 |
0.1% |
-6.3 |
-0.9% |
(p) – preliminary
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: March 2013 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released April 19, 2013.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
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