PA Unemployment Rate Remains at 5.4% in August

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

Sep 18, 2015, 08:30 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its employment situation report for August 2015.

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in August, unchanged from July. The state rate has now been at 5.4 percent for four consecutive months. Pennsylvania's rate was three-tenths of a percentage point above the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent, which was down two-tenths of a percentage point in August. The commonwealth's rate was also 5.4 percent in August 2014 while the national rate declined by a full percentage point over the year.

Pennsylvania's civilian labor force was down 12,000 in August to 6,415,000. Both resident employment and unemployment were down modestly.

Total nonfarm jobs were down 2,900 in August to 5,855,700. Private sector jobs were down 8,300 while public sector jobs rose 5,400. Education & health services and government showed noticeable gains in August, while leisure & hospitality and other services showed the largest single-month declines.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 57,300 (+1.0%). The growth was concentrated within private service-providing industries, with the largest gains in education & health services and trade, transportation & utilities. Construction jobs, though relatively unchanged in August, were up 8,900 from a year ago.

Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sara Goulet, 717-787-7530

Editor's Note: A breakdown of Pennsylvania's employment statistics follows.

Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)

				Change from		Change from
	August 2015	July 2015	August 2014	July 2015		August 2014
	August 2015	July 2015	August 2014	volume	percent	volume	percent
PA
Civilian Labor Force	6,415	6,427	6,358	-12	-0.2%	57	0.9%
Employment	6,071	6,078	6,015	-7	-0.1%	56	0.9%
Unemployment	344	349	343	-5	-1.4%	1	0.3%
Rate	5.4	5.4	5.4	0.0	----	0.0	----

U.S.
Civilian Labor Force	157,065	157,106	156,018	-41	0.0%	1,047	0.7%
Employment	149,036	148,840	146,451	196	0.1%	2,585	1.8%
Unemployment	8,029	8,266	9,568	-237	-2.9%	-1,539	-16.1%
Rate	5.1	5.3	6.1	-0.2	----	-1.0	----

Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)

				Change from		Change from
	August 2015	July 2015	August 2014	July 2015		August 2014
	August 2015	July 2015	August 2014	volume	percent	volume	percent

Total Nonfarm Jobs	5,855.7	5,858.6	5,798.4	-2.9	0.0%	57.3	1.0%

Goods Producing Industries	841.8	845.2	837.6	-3.4	-0.4%	4.2	0.5%
Mining & Logging	35.5	36.5	38.1	-1.0	-2.7%	-2.6	-6.8%
Construction	241.4	241.7	232.5	-0.3	-0.1%	8.9	3.8%
Manufacturing	564.9	567.0	567.0	-2.1	-0.4%	-2.1	-0.4%

Service Providing Industries	5,013.9	5,013.4	4,960.8	0.5	0.0%	53.1	1.1%
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	1,127.7	1,130.6	1,112.4	-2.9	-0.3%	15.3	1.4%
Information	86.4	84.4	84.9	2.0	2.4%	1.5	1.8%
Financial Activities	320.3	321.8	316.1	-1.5	-0.5%	4.2	1.3%
Professional & Business Services	765.6	767.2	762.0	-1.6	-0.2%	3.6	0.5%
Education & Health Services	1,201.8	1,195.7	1,182.6	6.1	0.5%	19.2	1.6%
Leisure & Hospitality	543.8	547.0	537.7	-3.2	-0.6%	6.1	1.1%
Other Services	254.1	257.9	254.8	-3.8	-1.5%	-0.7	-0.3%
Government	714.2	708.8	710.3	5.4	0.8%	3.9	0.5%

For a more detailed breakdown of seasonally adjusted jobs data at the sector level, please contact the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis at 1-877-4WF-DATA, or visit www.paworkstats.pa.gov

Note: September 2015 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released October 16, 2015.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry