Unemployment Rate Decreases In Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania decreased from July to August, albeit slightly.

Pennsylvania's Department of Labor & Industry released details on the state's unemployment Friday.

The rate for August was reported at 6.4 percent.

That figure is down slightly from July, which saw a 6.5 percent unemployment rate.

August's rate was down from August 2020's rate by 3.8 percent.

Nationally, the unemployment rate is 5.2 percent for August, which was down from 5.4 percent.

In Pennsylvania, the estimated number of residents working or looking for work decreased 7,000 over the month in large part due to a drop of 6,000 in unemployment which fell for the sixth consecutive month.

Nonfarm jobs were up 5,100 over the month to 5,743,000 in August.

Jobs increased in eight of the 11 industry supersectors.

The largest gain was tied between professional and business services and other services, each up 3,200; the largest movement was a drop of 8,800 leisure and hospitality jobs.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 191,100 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors.

Leisure & hospitality had the largest 12-month gain, adding back 66,700 jobs.

All supersectors remained below their February 2020 job levels as of August 2021.