Apr 20, 2019 1 min read

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate hit a 43-year low in March, according to figures released Friday by the state Department of Labor & Industry.

The state rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point from February to 3.9 percent, the lowest figure since 1976, when Gerald Ford was president. That is 0.5 of a point lower than it was in March 2018. The U.S. March rate is 3.8 percent.

The civilian labor force – estimated number of state residents working or looking for work – was up 5,000 from February. And for a second consecutive month, employment ascended to a record high: 6,219,000, as the number of employed rose by 10,000. The number listed as unemployed dropped by 6,000 to 255,000, the lowest level since August 2000.

There were an estimated 6,044,500 nonfarm jobs last month, an increase of 4,000 over the month. Jobs increased during that period in six of the 11 industry super-sectors, the largest volume gain (2,200) coming in professional and business services. Two sectors – education and health services and leisure and hospitality – reached record-high job levels.

Jobs increased 0.8 percent statewide from March 2018, with gains in eight super-sectors. Education and health services posted the largest volume gain over the 12 months.