Pennsylvania's Unemployment Rate Jumped To 6 Percent In March At Very Beginning Of COVID-19 Shutdowns

On April 17, the Department of Labor and Industry reported the March unemployment rate was up 1.3 percentage points over the month to 6.0 percent, which referenced the week from March 8-14.   The national rate rose nine-tenths of a point to 4.4 percent. 

The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate increased by 1.9 percentage points from March 2019 while the national rate was up six-tenths of a percentage point over the year. 

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – declined by 19,000 over the month from February’s record high level. 

Resident employment was down 104,000 while unemployment rose by 85,000.  

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were down 40,400 from February’s record high to 6,069,200 in March. Jobs were down in 10 of the 11 industry supersectors. 

The largest volume supersector decline was in leisure & hospitality which fell from a record high level in February. 

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 14,500 with gains in six of the 11 supersectors. The largest volume 12-month change among supersectors was an increase of 12,800 jobs in education & health services.  

[Posted: April 17, 2020]