Biden notes Pa.’s record low unemployment rate

U.S. President Joe Biden noted Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate for August, which remained at an historic low 3.5%, a figure that ranks below the national unemployment figure of 3.8%.

“Under Bidenomics, we have helped build one of the greatest stretches of job creation in American history, and Pennsylvania is leading the way with its second month in a row at its lowest unemployment rate on record,” Biden stated in an email. “The Bidenomics boom is in every corner of Pennsylvania. With record lows in areas from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, York to Erie, Scranton to Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania is leading America and America is leading the world again.”

The late rankings were released Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I). While Pennsylvania’s rate remains its lowest since January 1976, the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly by three-tenths of a percentage point. 

Pennsylvania’s unemployment was 0.8% below its August 2022 level of 4.3%. The state’s civilian labor force, which is the estimated number of residents working or looking for work, increased by 1,000 in August. Resident employment rose by 6,000 from July and unemployment fell by 4,000. 

Nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 15,800 in August to a record high of 6,164,500. It marks the eighth consecutive month that jobs have set a new all-time high level. 

Eight of the 11 industry supersectors saw jobs increase in July, the largest gain (7,400) being in education & health services, which rose to a record high. Construction and trade, transportation and utilities also reached record high levels in August. 

Nonfarm jobs for the year have increased by 153,800, with gains in all 11 supersectors. The largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors was in education & health services, which increased by 50,000.