HARRISBURG – The state’s unemployment rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.5 percent in May according to employment statistics released  by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. This was the state’s lowest unemployment rate since March 2009.
“Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate hasn’t been this low since 2009 and has declined for four consecutive months,” Julia Hearthway, Secretary of the Department of Labor & Industry said. “Pennsylvania’s rate is now below the U.S. rate, which increased one-tenth of a percentage point in May to 7.6 percent.”
Over the year, the unemployment rate was down four-tenths of a percentage point and the labor force was up 45,000.
The employment count, or the number of people working, increased by 24,000 from April. This was the largest increase sinceAugust 1983.
The number of people unemployed decreased to 488,000. This was the fourth consecutive month that the unemployment count has decreased.
Private sector jobs were down 6,200 in May, but up 20,600 over May 2012. The number of private sector jobs added since January 2011 was 116,400.
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.
