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WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point over the past month to 4.5% in December.
The national rate was unchanged from November at 3.5%.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry on Friday released its employment situation report for December 2019.
The commonwealth’s unemployment rate increased by three-tenths of a percentage point from December 2018 while the national rate was down four-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — was up 18,000 over the month to 6,552,000 — the third consecutive record high.
December was the fifth consecutive month in which employment and unemployment both increased, signaling that Pennsylvanians have been entering the workforce.
The estimated number of jobs in Pennsylvania, referred to as total non-farm jobs, declined 9,700 from November’s record high to 6,063,400 in December.
Jobs were up in five of the 11 industry super-sectors.
The largest super-sector movement from November was a drop of 5,900 professional and business services jobs.
Education & health services, up 700 over the month, had the largest gain from November and reached a new record high.
Although no other super-sectors were at record high levels in December, three others set new record high levels earlier in 2019.
Over the year, total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 32,700 with gains in seven of the 11 super-sectors. All three goods-producing super-sectors declined from last December, while only one service-providing super-sector was down.
The largest volume 12-month change among super-sectors was an increase of 13,300 professional & business services jobs.
Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.