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WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania saw a record high for jobs for the 16th consecutive month, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry’s July employment situation report.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from June to 4.2 percent — the lowest rate since it was matched in May 2007. Over the year, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate has declined by six-tenths of a percentage point.

The estimated number of Pennsylvania residents working or looking for work — known as the civilian labor force — was up 7,000 in July, as a 15,000 gain in employment outweighed a decline of 8,000 from the ranks of the unemployed.

This was the second consecutive month in which employment rose while unemployment fell. Over the year, the civilian labor force was down by 50,000 with the majority of the movement due to a decrease in unemployment.

The estimated number of jobs in Pennsylvania — referred to as total nonfarm jobs — was up 2,100 from June to a record high of 6,020,500. Highlights from this month’s jobs report include:

• 16th consecutive month jobs established a record high level.

• Jobs were up in seven of the 11 industry super-sectors over the month.

• Three super-sectors — professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and other services — set records.

• Total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 1.2 percent (plus 71,900) from July 2017. During this period, jobs increased in nine super-sectors with three adding more than 10,000 each. Nationally, jobs were up 1.6 percent over the year.

The data is seasonally adjusted because that provides the most valid month-to-month comparison.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov.

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By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.