File photo.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry unveiled its preliminary employment situation report for September last Friday and highlighted a record low for the state’s job market.
Pennsylvania set a new record low with its unemployment rate dropping to 3.4 percent in September, a decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month. The rate is the lowest since records began in January 1976.
The national unemployment rate remained static from August at 3.8 percent.
From a year-over-year perspective, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate showed significant improvement. It was 0.9 percentage points lower than its 4.3 percent rate in September 2022. The U.S. unemployment rate has risen by three-tenths of a percentage point during the same period.
Additionally, the state’s civilian labor force, which encompasses residents either employed or seeking employment, experienced a decrease of 2,000. Resident employment figures showed an uptick of 2,000 from August, and unemployment numbers fell by 4,000, officials said.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs surged to a record-breaking 6,171,600 in September, a monthly increase of 8,300. This marks the ninth consecutive month of record-setting job numbers for the state.
In a more localized report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that Bucks County had an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent in August, showing a rise from its prior month.
According to state data, the largest employers in Bucks County are Giant Food Stores, Central Bucks School District, Doylestown Health, Bucks County government, Walmart, St. Mary Medical Center, Northtec, Grand View Health, Pennsbury School District, and Woods Services.
