Jobless rate for Pittsburgh region remains at record low
The Pittsburgh region’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained at 3.5%, unchanged from October to November 2023, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.
It 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 of the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area at 3.3%, which is down one-tenth of a percentage point from October.
Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted rate remained steady at the record low 3.4% in November also dating back to January 1976, while the national rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point from October to 3.7%.
Butler County’s seasonally adjusted labor force increased over the past month from 98,300 to 99,500, with 3,300 people unemployed.
Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland are the other counties in the Pittsburgh region. All saw a decrease to their seasonally adjusted jobless rate from October to November last year.
After Butler, Allegheny County had the second lowest rate at 3.4%, followed by Washington County at 3.6% and Westmoreland and Armstrong Counties at 3.7%.
Fayette County had the highest jobless rate in the region at 4.5%, followed by Beaver County at 4.3%.
In surrounding counties not classified as part of the Pittsburgh region, Mercer County came in with a jobless rate of 4.1%.
Venango County came in with a rate of 4.2%, Clarion County was 4.4% and Lawrence County at 4.7%.
The Gettysburg region and the State College region were tied for the lowest in the state at 2.7% in November 2023 with Lancaster behind them at 2.8%.
East Stroudsburg remained the highest region in the state with a rate of 4.5% followed by Johnstown at 4.4% and Scranton at 4.2%.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh region increased by 5,600 over the month to 1,174,500 in November.
Statewide jobs were up by 2.1% since November 2022 in the Pittsburgh region.
Jobs increased from October to November in seven of the 11 “supersectors” in the Pittsburgh area — the broadest groups of industries.
The trade, transportation and utilities supersector in the Pittsburgh region saw the largest increase, adding 4,100 jobs from October to November.
Education and health services was second, adding 3,700 jobs over the past month.
Leisure and hospitality saw the largest decline, losing 2,800 jobs, followed by construction which lost 2,100 jobs.
Over the past year, jobs were up in eight of the 11 supersectors, which was lead by education and health services which added 7,300 jobs.
