Jobless rate for Pittsburgh region remains at record low
The Pittsburgh region’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained unchanged from September to October, standing at 3.5% according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.
This remains the record low for the region, dating back to January 1976, when the rate started being tracked.
Butler County’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was the lowest out of the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area at 3.4%, which is up two-tenths of a percentage point from September.
Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted rate remained steady at the record low 3.4% in October also dating back to January 1976, while the national rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from September to 3.9%.
Butler County’s seasonally adjusted labor force had a slight increase over the past month from 98,200 to 98,300, with 3,300 people unemployed.
Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland are the other counties in the Pittsburgh region and all saw an increase to their seasonally adjusted jobless rate over the past month.
After Butler, Allegheny County had the second lowest rate at 3.7%, followed by Washington County at 3.9% and Westmoreland County at 4%.
Fayette County had the highest jobless rate in the region at 5%, followed by Beaver County at 4.5% and Armstrong County at 4.3%.
In surrounding counties not classified as part of the Pittsburgh region, Mercer County came in with a jobless rate of 4.2%.
Venango and Clarion counties both came in with a rate of 4.6%, while Lawrence County was the highest at 4.8%.
The Gettysburg Metropolitan Statistical Area boasted the lowest seasonally adjusted rates in the state at 2.7% in October while Lancaster and State College came in just behind at 2.8% each.
East Stroudsburg region had the highest rate at 4.6% while Johnstown was the second highest at 4.4%.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh region increased by 300 over the past month, rounding out to 1,169,900 in October.
Statewide, there was a 2.1% increase in available jobs since October 2022.
Jobs increased from September to October in six of the 11 “supersectors” in the Pittsburgh area — the broadest groups of industries.
The largest increases was seasonal in nature as education and health services saw an increase of 7,000 jobs over the past month.
Trade, transportation and utilities increased by 500 jobs and government gained 400.
Professional and business services saw the largest decline over the past month by 1,500 jobs.
Manufacturing also took a hit, losing 900 jobs from September to October, while construction lost 800 jobs.
Over the past year, jobs were up in 10 of the supersectors, lead by education and health services with an increase of 5,800 jobs and manufacturing which added 2,400.
