The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania held steady at 3.5 percent in August.
The rate marked the lowest figure since records began in January 1976, according to a preliminary report released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry on Friday.
While the state’s unemployment figure remains static, it contrasts with the national rate which rose by 0.3 percentage points to 3.8 percent from July.
Year over year, the Keystone State saw a significant improvement, with its current rate 0.8 percentage points lower than the August 2022 rate of 4.3 percent.
The state’s job report revealed Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force grew by 1,000 in August, accounting for the estimated number of residents either employed or actively seeking work. The number of employed residents jumped by 6,000 from the previous month while unemployment numbers decreased by 4,000, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor said.
Pennsylvania added nonfarm jobs in August and reached a historical peak of 6,164,500.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Bucks County for July – the most recent month for which data are available – was 3.3 percent, a slight increase from the previous month.
According to state data, the largest employers in Bucks County are Giant Food Stores, Central Bucks School District, Doylestown Health, Bucks County government, Walmart, St. Mary Medical Center, Northtec, Grand View Health, Pennsbury School District, and Woods Services.
