PA Jobless Rates Continue to Drop
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By ANNE HOLLIDAY
From 2 News Releases
Harrisburg – Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in March, down from 8.0 percent in February 2011.
March’s rate was down a full percentage point from March 2010, the largest over- the-year decline since August 1987. Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – was up 3,000 in March to 6,364,000. Resident employment rose by 20,000 to 5,869,000 while the number of unemployed residents fell 17,000 to 495,000, its lowest level since March 2009.
Pennsylvania’s labor force was up 1,000 from its March 2010 level.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were down 1,700 in March to 5,670,100. Seven of the eleven supersectors added jobs in March, but declines in the rest outweighed the gains. The largest increase was in Trade, Transportation & Utilities, which was up 3,000 to 1,087,900, while the largest decrease was in Professional & Business Services, down 4,200. Mining & Logging increased for the twenty-second consecutive month, up 700 in March to 30,700, the highest level since 1990.
Pennsylvania’s job count was up 76,500 (1.4 percent) from March 2010.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), issued the following statement in response to March employment figures released today by Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry, which showed a drop in the unemployment rate from 8.0 percent in February, 2011 to 7.8 percent in March.
“Today’s employment report provides fresh evidence that the Pennsylvania economy is recovering. The unemployment rate fell for the third month in a row and has dropped by a full percentage point in the past 12 months. The number of unemployed is now below half a million for the first time in two years. I was also encouraged to see that the number of people working in our state increased by 20,000 during the month to 5,869,000. These are positive developments.
“I’m concerned, however, that the employer survey, which counts the number of jobs, recorded a decline of 1,700 positions during the month. While this is a small drop, I would have liked to have seen job growth again this month, following on the solid gains in January and February. It underscores that we need to stay focused on job creation and on implementing policies that will help Pennsylvania businesses expand. It’s also useful to remember that in the past 12 months, Pennsylvania has added more than 75,000 jobs.
“As Chairman of the JEC, I will shine a spotlight on policies that can help create additional private sector jobs, spark innovation and add strength to the recovery in Pennsylvania and across the country. My focus is on ensuring that the recovery continues and reaches everyone. We must continue to implement job-creating policies while investing in education to prepare our children for the jobs of the future.”
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
From 2 News Releases
Harrisburg – Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in March, down from 8.0 percent in February 2011.
March’s rate was down a full percentage point from March 2010, the largest over- the-year decline since August 1987. Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – was up 3,000 in March to 6,364,000. Resident employment rose by 20,000 to 5,869,000 while the number of unemployed residents fell 17,000 to 495,000, its lowest level since March 2009.
Pennsylvania’s labor force was up 1,000 from its March 2010 level.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were down 1,700 in March to 5,670,100. Seven of the eleven supersectors added jobs in March, but declines in the rest outweighed the gains. The largest increase was in Trade, Transportation & Utilities, which was up 3,000 to 1,087,900, while the largest decrease was in Professional & Business Services, down 4,200. Mining & Logging increased for the twenty-second consecutive month, up 700 in March to 30,700, the highest level since 1990.
Pennsylvania’s job count was up 76,500 (1.4 percent) from March 2010.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), issued the following statement in response to March employment figures released today by Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry, which showed a drop in the unemployment rate from 8.0 percent in February, 2011 to 7.8 percent in March.
“Today’s employment report provides fresh evidence that the Pennsylvania economy is recovering. The unemployment rate fell for the third month in a row and has dropped by a full percentage point in the past 12 months. The number of unemployed is now below half a million for the first time in two years. I was also encouraged to see that the number of people working in our state increased by 20,000 during the month to 5,869,000. These are positive developments.
“I’m concerned, however, that the employer survey, which counts the number of jobs, recorded a decline of 1,700 positions during the month. While this is a small drop, I would have liked to have seen job growth again this month, following on the solid gains in January and February. It underscores that we need to stay focused on job creation and on implementing policies that will help Pennsylvania businesses expand. It’s also useful to remember that in the past 12 months, Pennsylvania has added more than 75,000 jobs.
“As Chairman of the JEC, I will shine a spotlight on policies that can help create additional private sector jobs, spark innovation and add strength to the recovery in Pennsylvania and across the country. My focus is on ensuring that the recovery continues and reaches everyone. We must continue to implement job-creating policies while investing in education to prepare our children for the jobs of the future.”
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