Washington and Greene counties jobless rates drop
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The unemployment rates in Washington and Greene counties sank significantly in December, a positive turn tempered by the fact many people who had been seeking work have stopped.
Washington County’s rate dropped to 6.0 percent, a full percentage point below the November figure, and Greene’s dropped from 6.0 to 5.3 percent, according to seasonally adjusted figures reported by the state Department of Labor & Industry.
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Washington County, likewise realized a drop-off to 6.3 percent from 6.6 percent in November. That was the third consecutive monthly decline in the seven-county MSA, which also includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland.
Labor & Industry’s preliminary numbers indicate people from Washington, Greene and across the MSA have ceased seeking jobs.
Washington’s labor force was 108,800 in December, a drop of 900, and the number of unemployed slid 1,100 in one month from 7,700 to 6,600. About 200 found jobs over the month.
December’s labor force dropped 1,300 from the previous December.
Greene’s work force (22,400) and jobless (1,200) number each declined by 100 in December, with the number of employed remaining 21,200 during each month.
Unemployment in the two local counties have plummeted from December 2012, Washington from 7.5 to 6.0 percent and Greene from 7.1 to 5.3.
Unemployment in the MSA dropped 1.0 point year-over-year. Its labor force of 1.25 million was down 4,200 from November, with 4,600 fewer considered to be unemployed. There was a job gain of 400.
The MSA’s 1.25 million work fell 13,200 from December 2012, when the number of jobless was 92,300 – 13,700 higher than this past December.
Butler, at 5.4 percent, had the lowest jobless figure in the MSA, followed Allegheny (5.6), Washington and Westmoreland tied for third. Fayette (7.3) had the highest.
Nonfarm jobs declined by 1,800 in December to 1.177 million. Construction jobs, partly because of the weather, dropped by 4,400; education and health services lost 2,300; and local government 400. Transportation, warehousing and utilities jobs increased by 300.