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WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate decreased to 4 percent in February — down one-tenth of a percentage point from January and matching the lowest rate on record.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Friday released its employment situation report for February 2019.
The national rate was 3.8 percent in February, down two-tenths of a percentage point. The Pennsylvania unemployment rate declined by one-half of a percentage point from February 2018.
Some highlights:
• The estimated number of Pennsylvania residents working or looking for work, known as the civilian labor force, was up 8,000 over the month.
• The number of employed Pennsylvanians rose by 15,000 to a record high of 6,209,000.
• The number of unemployed residents was down 5,000 from January to its lowest level since October 2000.
• The estimated number of jobs in Pennsylvania, referred to as total non-farm jobs, was down 200 from January’s record high to 6,037,800 in February.
• Total non-farm jobs increased from January in six of the 11 industry super-sectors.
• The largest volume gain was trade, transportation and utilities.
• Leisure and hospitality jobs rose to a record-high level.
Over the past 12 months, jobs increased 0.7 percent in the commonwealth with gains in eight of the 11 super-sectors. Education and health services had the largest volume 12-month gain. Nationally, jobs were up 1.7 percent during this period.
Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov.