PA’s Unemployment Rate Up Slightly In January, New Data Shows

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points over the month to 7.3 percent in January, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry said Friday.

The national rate fell four-tenths of a percentage point from December to 6.3 percent.

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 2.5 percentage points above its January 2020 level, while the national rate was up 2.8 points over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 15,000 over the month, according to the latest data.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 35,700 over the month to 5,638,100 in January, essentially reversing December’s drop of 35,400.

Jobs increased in four of the 11 industry supersectors, with the largest volume gain in professional & business services (+12,100 jobs).

More information on the latest jobs report is here.