Jan 4, 2019 2 min read

Washington and Greene counties each experienced a one-tenth of a percentage point dip in their November unemployment rates.

Washington’s figure fell to 4.2 percent, Greene’s to 4.9, according to seasonally adjusted statistics released Thursday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. Washington County dealt with a 0.1 percent increase each of the previous three months.

Unemployment declined by 0.8 percent in both counties from November 2017 – from 5.0 in Washington and 5.7 in Greene.

Washington County’s rate for last month equaled that of Pennsylvania, but was 0.5 percent above the national figure of 3.7 percent. Washington is one of seven counties comprising the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, where the rate remained at 4.2.

Washington’s labor force, according to Labor & Industry, was 106,900 in November, 200 fewer than the previous month. Employment dipped by 100, to 102,400, but the number of residents listed as unemployed decreased by 200 to 4,500.

Greene’s labor force (16,500), and number of employed (15,700) and unemployed (800) were listed as the same as in October.

Washington had the third-lowest countywide rate in the MSA, which also consists of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, plus Pittsburgh. Butler County had the lowest unemployment figure in the MSA, 3.8 percent, followed by Allegheny (4.0), Washington, Beaver (4.3), Westmoreland (4.4), Armstrong (4.6) and Fayette (5.7).

Fayette’s rate dropped by one-tenth of a point, and was well below its November 2017 figure of 6.7 percent. Westmoreland’s figure remained unchanged for a third straight month.

The Pittsburgh and Altoona MSAs tied for the 10th-lowest rate among Pennsylvania’s 18 MSAs. Gettysburg and State College shared the lowest MSA rate – 3.2 percent – and East Stroudsburg (5.3) had the highest.

Among the state’s 67 counties, rates ranged from Chester (3.1) to Forest (6.0).

Nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh MSA increased by 300 over the month to 1,193,800 – establishing a record for the third consecutive month. Over the year, jobs were up by 0.9 percent in he MSA, a bump of 10,100, and grew by 1.3 percent statewide.

The education and health services sector added 100 jobs in November, hitting a record-high 258,700. Construction likewise established a new high – 65,800 – following an increase of 200 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities had the largest month-over-month increase – 3,700 – thanks to the holiday shopping and shipping season. Leisure and hospitality posted the biggest decrease (2,300 jobs).