Pennsylvania’s August Jobless Rate Hits 18-Year Low

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from July to 4.1 percent in August, the lowest rate since July 2000, according to the Department of Labor and Industry Friday.

Over the year, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate declined by seven-tenths of a percentage point.

The estimated number of Pennsylvania residents working or looking for work, known as the civilian labor force, was up 9,000 over the month as the unemployment count declined by 5,000 while employment increased by 14,000.

This was the third consecutive month that saw employment rise and unemployment fall.

Over the year, the civilian labor force was down 38,000 with the decrease attributable to unemployment which was down 45,000 from last August while employment was up 7,000.

The estimated number of jobs in Pennsylvania, referred to as total nonfarm jobs, was the second highest nonfarm job level on record, down 4,900 to 6,018,500 in August. Highlights from this month’s jobs report include:

-- Total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 1.1 percent from August 2017;

-- Jobs increased in three of the 11 industry supersectors over the month; and

-- Education & health services jobs rose to a record high.

Over the year, jobs increased in eight supersectors in the Commonwealth with education & health services showing the largest gain. Nationally, jobs were up 1.6 percent during this timeframe.

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Pennsylvania’s Jobless Rate Hits 18-Year Low