File photo.
The unemployment rate has slightly increased in the Keystone State, according to data released recently by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The state department released its preliminary employment situation report for February 2023, which showed an increase in the unemployment rate. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.4% in February.
The commonwealth’s unemployment rate matched its February 2022 level, while the national rate was down 0.2 percentage points over the year. The U.S. unemployment rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point from January to 3.6%.
According to the report, as of January 2023, Pennsylvania has recovered more than 100% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, which is the estimated number of residents working or looking for work, was up 8,000 over the month due to increases in both employment and unemployment, the report said.
Jobs increased from January in six of the 11 industry supersectors, with the largest gain in leisure and hospitality (+3,000). Trade, transportation, and utilities jobs remained at a record high level.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released data showing that the unemployment rate in Bucks County for January – the most recent month for which data is available – was 3.8%, an increase over the previous month.
See also:
PA Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged for November
PA’s Unemployment Rate Hits New Record Low in October
PA Unemployment Rate Drops, Matching Lowest Rate
About $4.9B in Unemployment Fraud Unrecovered in Pennsylvania
