State’s jobless rate holds at 5.4 percent
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Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate for June was 5.4 percent, the same as May, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
That figure, however, was three-tenths of a point lower than the June 2014 rate.
The national figure for last month was slightly better than the Keystone State’s 5.3 percent. The U.S. rate dropped 0.8 points from the previous June.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, the number of people working or looking for work, rose by 7,000 to remain above 6.4 million. Employment rose by 9,000 to creep closer to 6.1 million, while unemployment shrank by 3,000 to about 345,000.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased by 2,700 in June to 5,847,400. Private sector jobs fell 6,800 from May, but the public sector added jobs for a third consecutive month.
The leisure and hospitality category experienced the largest decline in June (4,200 jobs), professional and business services the biggest gain (4,200).
For the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 58,000 (1.0 percent) statewide. Growth was concentrated in private industries, with the largest gains coming in education and health services; trade; transportation and utilities; and construction.