Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate went up slightly in January.
The Department of Labor and Industry reports Pennsylvania’s rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.8 percent over the month of January. This was lower than the national unemployment rate, which decreased one-tenth of a point to four percent, and it was one-tenth of a point above the rate from one year ago.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, which is the number of residents working or looking for work, went down 6,000 over the month to 6.542 million. Resident employment saw the biggest decline of 11,000, while unemployment rose 4,000 in January. Total nonfarm jobs were up 9,500 over the month. Jobs increased in eight of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest movement was in education and health services, which saw a gain of 5,100. Those two sectors and other services reached record highs.
Countywide statistics will be released later this month.
