HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has released its employment situation report for June of 2015.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June, unchanged from May. Pennsylvania’s rate was one-tenth of a percentage point above the U.S. rate of 5.3 percent, which decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point.
The commonwealth’s rate was down 0.3 percentage points from June of 2014 while the national rate declined by 0.8 points over the year.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force rose 7,000 from May to 6,423,000. Resident employment increased 9,000 while unemployment fell 3,000.
Total nonfarm jobs were down 2,700 in June to 5,847,400. Private sector jobs were down 6,800 from May while the public sector added jobs for the third consecutive month. Leisure & hospitality (-4,200) had the largest decline in June. Professional & business services (+4,200) had the largest gain and reached a record high. Education & health services also reached a record high in June.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 58,000 (+1.0 percent). The growth was concentrated within private industries, with the largest gains in education & health services, trade, transportation & utilities, and construction.
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.