May 1, 2018 2 min read

The jobs situation in Washington and Greene counties was a lot brighter in March, as the unemployment rate tumbled four-tenths of a percentage point from February in each county.

Washington’s rate dropped to 4.5 percent and Greene’s to 5.1, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. Over the year, unemployment has declined nine-tenths of a point in the two counties, from 5.4 percent in Washington and 6.0 in Greene.

For the first time in more than two years, Washington’s jobless rate is below that of Pennsylvania (4.8). The county’s March 4.5 percent figure equals that of the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, which experienced a dip from 4.7 percent in February. The United States’ rate is 4.1 percent.

Washington County’s labor force, according to Labor & Industry, was 104,800. There were 4,700 out of work in March. Greene had a labor force of 16,500 and 800 unemployed.

Washington had the third-lowest countywide rate in the MSA, which also consists of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Fayette counties, plus Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh MSA tied for the 10th-lowest jobless rate among Pennsylvania’s 18 MSAs.

Butler had the lowest unemployment figure in the MSA, 4.0 percent – just ahead of Allegheny (4.1). Westmoreland (4.6) was fourth, followed Beaver (4.8), Armstrong (5.3) and Fayette (6.0). Fayette, however, experienced a 0.4 percent dip from February and a whopping 1.3 percent decline from the previous March.

Among the state’s 67 counties, Adams, Centre, Chester and Lancaster (all 3.3) tied for the lowest jobless rate. Forest (6.5) had the highest.

Total nonfarm jobs decreased by 800 from February to March in the Pittsburgh MSA. Jobs in the MSA rose by 1.4 percent over the year – an increase of 16,800. Jobs statewide also increased by 1.4 percent.

Leisure and hospitality had the largest increase in jobs – 2,300 – of any super-sector over the month. Construction jobs were up by 1,600.