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The October seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the region fell to 5.8 percent, according to data released Thursday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
The Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked 15th among the state’s 18 labor markets. State College ranked first with the lowest rate of 3.8 percent. Johnstown had the highest rate of 6.4 percent and ranked last.
The monthly report showed a three-tenths of a percentage point drop from September’s rate of 6.1 percent and a half percentage point decline from the 6.3 percent rate for October 2014.
The local labor market’s rate drop outpaced the state’s decline of two-tenths of a percentage point to 5.1 percent and the national rate’s decrease of one-tenth of a point to 5 percent.
The report further detailed the rates in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties that make up the local labor market. All three counties recorded monthly and yearly drops. Lackawanna County fell to 5.3 percent from 5.6 in September and 6 percent in October 2014. Luzerne County fell to 5.9 percent from 6.2 in September and 6.5 percent in October 2014. Wyoming County fell to 5.8 percent from 6 percent in September and October 2014.
Total non-farm jobs in the region rose to 269,300, an increase of 2,400 from September. In a year-to-year comparison, the jobs increased by 8,600 from October 2014.
The goods-producing sector totaled 38,500 jobs, an increase of 300 from September but a decrease of 900 from a year ago. The service-providing sector listed 230,800 jobs, up 2,100 from September and 9.500 from the same period last year.