HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) has released its preliminary employment situation report for July 2024, revealing a stable unemployment rate and continued job growth across several industry sectors.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.4% in July, marking the tenth consecutive month at this rate. This figure remains significantly lower than the national unemployment rate, which increased by 0.2 percentage points from June to 4.3%.
The state’s civilian labor force, which includes residents either employed or actively seeking work, saw a slight decline of 1,000 individuals, bringing the total to 6,602,000 in July. This decrease was attributed to a corresponding drop in resident employment.
In a positive development, Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs reached a record high of 6,191,000, an increase of 12,200 jobs from June. This marks the twelfth consecutive month of record highs in the state’s job count. Notably, six of the eleven industry supersectors reported gains, with the government sector leading with an addition of 7,700 jobs. The education and health services sector also experienced substantial growth, achieving a record high for the fourteenth consecutive month.
Over the past year, Pennsylvania’s job market has expanded by 105,000 nonfarm jobs, with eight of the eleven supersectors recording gains. The education and health services sector saw the largest increase, adding 57,100 jobs, underscoring its vital role in the state’s economic growth.
These figures spotlight the resilience of Pennsylvania’s job market and indicate a robust economic environment. The consistent job growth and stable unemployment rate reflect the state’s ongoing efforts to foster a dynamic and inclusive economy.
The data presented are seasonally adjusted to provide the most accurate month-to-month comparisons. It is important to note that July 2024 data are preliminary and may be subject to revisions.
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