HARRISBURG-Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in April, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the 7.5 percent March rate.Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was below theU.S.rate of 8.1 percent, and has been below theU.S.rate for 48 consecutive months, and at or below theU.S.rate for 66 consecutive months.
The state’s unemployment rate was down 0.5 percentage points from April 2011.
Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – was up 21,000 in April to 6,428,000. Resident employment was up 27,000 to 5,954,000, and the number of unemployed residents fell 6,000 to 474,000.Pennsylvania’s labor force was 32,000 above its April 2011 level.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs inPennsylvaniawere down 600 in April to 5,727,700. Goods-producers were down 4,100 due to a drop in construction of 5,400. Service-providing jobs increased 3,500 to a record high of 4,895,900. Trade, transportation & utilities had the largest increase of any supersector in April, adding 4,400 jobs. Leisure & hospitality set a new record high level this month, increasing to 524,900 jobs.
Pennsylvania’s job count was up 38,600 (0.7 percent) over the year while national total nonfarm jobs were up 1,816,000 (1.4 percent) over the past 12 months.