The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for Butler County rose from 3.4% in November to 3.6% in December, according to the most recent data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Butler Eagle Graphic

The Pittsburgh region’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4% in December, marking the second consecutive month at the lowest rate the area has seen since the records began being tracked in 1976.

Butler County’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate did increase two-tenths of a percent in December 2022 to 3.6%.

Despite the rise, Butler County retained the lowest rate of the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to the most recent data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted rate declined one-tenth of a percent in December to 3.9%, also the lowest on record, dating to 1976. The United States rate was 3.5%.

Butler County’s seasonally adjusted labor force did gain 1,500 people from November to December, coming to 99,800 workers.

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland are among the other counties in the Pittsburgh region.

Armstrong, Fayette and Washington counties all saw slight decreases in their seasonally adjusted rates.

In Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, rates remained the same during December, while Beaver County joined Butler as the only counties to see an increase in their rates.

In surrounding counties not classified as part of the Pittsburgh region, Lawrence and Venango counties came in with a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.8%, Mercer County at 4.5% and Clarion County at 4.3%.

The Gettysburg Metropolitan Statistical Area boasted the lowest seasonally adjusted rate in the state at 2.8%, while East Stroudsburg had the highest at 5.4%.

Jobs rose from November to December in four of the 11 “supersectors” in the Pittsburgh area — the broadest groups of industries.

This was led by a seasonal increase of 1,300 jobs in the trade, transportation and utilities.

Seven supersectors decreased over the past month, such as seasonal declines in construction, which lost 3,900 jobs.

Education and health services lost 1,200 jobs, while leisure and hospitality lost 700 jobs.

Over the past year, however, both leisure and hospitality and professional and business services added more than 10,000 jobs.