Jul 28, 2015 2 min read

The employment pictures in Washington and Greene counties brightened considerably in June, with each experiencing a 0.4 percent decrease in their monthly jobless rates.

Washington’s figure was 5.2 percent and Greene’s 5.6, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. The rates are seasonably adjusted.

June was a trend-changer for Washington County. This was its first monthly decline since October, when its rate was 4.7 percent. Its latest figure also was below that of the nation (5.3) and state (5.4) again, after the county exceeded both sets of numbers in recent months.

The county figure has been at or below the U.S. rate 27 of the past 29 months, but lagged behind the nation in April and May. Washington also was above the state figure from March through May.

Washington County’s 5.2 percent jobless rate last month likewise was 0.4 points better than June 2014.

Greene’s 5.6 rate was its lowest in four months, but above 5.2 percent from the previous June. The county was above the state and U.S. jobless levels for a fourth consecutive month, after being at or below both sets of figures for at least 30 months.

Washington County’s workforce was 106,900 in June, a decrease of 300 from May. There were 101,400 employed (up 200), and the number of unemployed fell by 500 (to 5,500).

Greene’s workforce declined by 100 (to 18,500), its employment rolls stayed at 17,500, while the number of unemployed fell by 100 (to 1,000).

Washington is one of seven counties in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 5.1 percent June rate, 0.2 points below May and 0.5 below June 2014. The MSA also includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland.

Butler had the lowest figure (4.6) and Fayette (7.1) the highest in the MSA. Fayette’s figure, though, was well below its May rate of 7.7 percent.

Washington had the fourth-lowest rate in the MSA, behind Butler, Allegheny (4.7) and Westmoreland (5.1), and ahead of Beaver (5.7), Armstrong (6.0) and Fayette.

Chester had the lowest rate among counties in the state, 3.6 percent, and Forest the highest, 7.4.

Nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh MSA decreased by 1,200 in June to 1,178,600. Over the year, they were up 2.0 percent (22,700) in the MSA and 1.0 percent statewide.

Professional and business services set a record for job gains with 3,200. Leisure and hospitality experienced a seasonal gain of 4,300 positions.

Losses, however, were recorded in colleges and universities (2,400), state government (1,400), and local government educational services (2,500).