Study reveals Pa. unemployment rate to be good news/bad news

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in February, but the state’s total nonfarm jobs reached a record high, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I). 

The L&I’s preliminary employment situation report revealed that the state’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.4% in February, matching its level from February 2022. 

The U.S. unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point from January to 3.6 but was down 0.2 percentage points from February 2022. 

According to the L&I report, Pennsylvania has recovered more than 100% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic. As of January 2023, the state’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – increased 8,000 over the month due to increases in both employment and unemployment. 

The state’s nonfarm jobs were up 5,600 over the month to a record high of 6,094,400 in February. Six of the 11 industry super sectors reported job increases from January, the largest increase being in leisure and hospitality with gains of more than 3,000. Trade, transportation, and utilities jobs remained at a record high level. 

Total nonfarm jobs were up 164,800 over the year with gains in all 11 super sectors. Education and health services saw the largest volume gain over the year with more than 53,600 jobs, while three other super sectors each saw increases of more than 19,000.