HARRISBURG – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its employment situation report for July 2014.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose in July to 5.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from June. This was the first gain in the state unemployment rate since June 2012. The commonwealth’s rate was five-tenths of a percentage point below the U.S. rate of 6.2 percent, which was also up one-tenth of a point in July. The state rate was down 1.8 percentage points from its July 2013 rate of 7.5 percent.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – was down 32,000 in July to 6,371,000 due to a decline in resident employment (-35,000). Despite July’s decline, employment has been trending upward. Pennsylvania’s employment has gone up 40,000 in the past year, and is up 21,000 so far in 2014. Unemployment, up 400, increased for the first time since August of 2012.
Total non-farm jobs decreased by 700 from June to 5,793,000. This decline followed gains in the previous three months which totaled 35,800. July’s drop was limited to private industry, down 3,400, as public sector jobs grew for the sixth consecutive month. The largest gain in July was in construction (+3,500), while the largest drop was in leisure & hospitality (-4,400).
Over the year, total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 54,100 (+0.9%). The growth was almost entirely within private industries, with the largest gains in construction and trade, transportation & utilities.
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.