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Jobless rates drop in Washington, Greene
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The employment picture brightened significantly in July in Washington and Greene counties.
Washington’s jobless rate dropped three-tenths of a precentage point from June to 6.9 percent, and Greene’s seasonally adjusted figure fell four-tenths to 6.2 percent, according to Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry statistics released Tuesday. The numbers are approximations.
The labor situation across the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area likewise improved in July, the jobless rate falling one-tenth of a point to 6.7 percent. That’s the lowest it has been since Fabruary 2009 (6.5 percent).
It also was the sixth consecutive monthly decline for the MSA, which comprises seven counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland.
Fayette experienced the greatest improvement in the MSA last month, its rate plummeting six-tenths of a point to 8.1 percent.
Washington and Greene’s relative prosperity in 2013 continued. Washington’s unemployment rate has fallen four of the past six months, while Greene’s has declined seven of the past 10.
Washington’s July rate of 6.9 is well below the 7.7 figure of July 2012. Greene’s 6.2 figure is five-tenths of a point under the year-over-year number.
The Labor Department figures indicate that Washington County’s labor force increased by only 100 (110,800 to 110,900) from June to July, but that the number of employed rose by 500 (102,800 to 103,300).
Greene’s labor force (22,400 to 22,700) and number of employed (21,000 to 21,300) each increased by 300.
Butler had the lowest unemployment rate in the MSA last month, 6.3 percent. just below Allegheny (6.4). Armstrong (8.3) had the highest.
The Pittsburgh MSA gained 3,300 nonfarm jobs from June to July for a record total of 1,173,000. This was the ninth increase in the past 12 months, resulting in the addition of 15,700 jobs over the year.
Construction jobs there increased by 1,200 in July, a sixth consecutive monthly rise in that industry. Construction is up about 400 jobs in the MSA since July 2012.
The end of the academic year contributed to large July job dropoffs in educational services (1,900 positions), local government educational services (6,700), and transportation and warehousing jobs (2,300) around the MSA.