Mar 23, 2019 1 min read

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate not only declined in February, it equaled a milestone low.

The state rate fell to 4.0 percent, one-tenth of a percentage point below that of January, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

That new figure matches the lowest on record. It also is five-tenths of a point lower than the February 2018 rate. The U.S. rate is 3.8 percent.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of state residents working or looking for work – increased by 8,000 from January. Employment jumped by 15,000 to a record-high of 6,209,000. The number of unemployed Pennsylvanians dropped by 5,000 to 261,000, the lowest level since October 2010.

There were an estimated 6,037,800 nonfarm jobs last month, down 200 from January’s record high. Jobs increased in six of the 11 industry super-sectors, the largest volume gain coming in trade, transportation and utilities. Service-providing industries rose to a record-high level, and leisure and hospitality hit an all-time high.

Since February 2018, jobs increased 0.7 percent statewide, with gains in eight super-sectors. Education and health services posted the largest volume gain over the 12 months. Nationally, jobs jumped 1.7 percent during that time.