Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Drops for Fifth Consecutive Month To 6.6 Percent in July

Nonfarm jobs surpassed 5.7 million

Leisure & hospitality jobs saw biggest gain 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its employment situation report for July 2021. 

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down three-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 6.6 percent in July. The U.S. rate fell one-half of a percentage point to 5.4 percent. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 6.4 percentage points below its July 2020 level and the national rate was down 4.8 points over the year. 

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 16,000 over the month due to a drop in unemployment which fell for the fifth consecutive month. Employment rose for the fifth time in the past six months. 

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 28,800 over the month to 5,731,800 in July. Jobs increased in 8 of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest volume gain in leisure & hospitality (+16,200). The largest drop was in education & health services (-2,400). Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 222,200 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors. Leisure & hospitality, which includes the restaurant industry had the largest 12-month gain, adding back 85,500 jobs. All supersectors remained below their February 2020 job levels as of July 2021. 

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah DeSantis, [email protected]                                                                        # # #

 

Editor’s Note: A breakdown of Pennsylvania’s employment statistics follows. 


Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
        Change from Change from
  July June July June 2021 July 2020
  2021 2021 2020 volume percent volume percent
PA              
Civilian Labor Force 6,304 6,320 6,432 -16 -0.3% -128 -2.0%
Employment 5,891 5,887 5,593 4  0.1%  298  5.3%
Unemployment 414 433 839 -19 -4.4% -425 -50.7%
Rate 6.6 6.9 13.0 -0.3 —- -6.4 —-
         
U.S.        
Civilian Labor Force 161,347 161,086 160,085 261 0.2% 1,262  0.8%
Employment 152,645 151,602 143,777 1,043 0.7% 8,868  6.2%
Unemployment 8,702 9,484 16,308 -782 -8.2% -7,606 -46.6%
Rate 5.4 5.9 10.2 -0.5 —- -4.8 —-
Note:
August 2021 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released
September 17th, 2021.


Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and
Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
Change from Change from
July June July    June 2021     July 2020
  2021 2021 2020 volume percent volume percent
Total Nonfarm Jobs 5,731.8 5,703.0 5,509.6 28.8  0.5% 222.2  4.0%
 
Goods Producing Industries 811.6 808.2 790.7  3.4  0.4% 20.9  2.6%
  Mining & Logging 21.4 22.0 22.2 -0.6 -2.7% -0.8 -3.6%
  Construction 244.4 245.9 239.5 -1.5 -0.6%  4.9  2.0%
  Manufacturing 545.8 540.3 529.0  5.5  1.0% 16.8  3.2%
Service Providing Industries 4,920.2 4,894.8 4,718.9  25.4  0.5% 201.3  4.3%
  Trade, Transportation & Utilities 1,098.0 1,097.0 1,058.0  1.0  0.1% 40.0  3.8%
  Information 84.5 83.4 80.1  1.1  1.3% 4.4  5.5%
  Financial Activities 328.1 327.0 322.8  1.1  0.3% 5.3  1.6%
  Professional & Business Services 769.4 768.1 746.9  1.3  0.2% 22.5  3.0%
  Education & Health Services 1,242.2 1,244.6 1,224.2 -2.4 -0.2% 18.0  1.5%
  Leisure & Hospitality 474.8 458.6 389.3  16.2  3.5% 85.5 22.0%
  Other Services 235.5 233.1 217.8  2.4   1.0% 17.7  8.1%
  Government 687.7 683.0 679.8  4.7  0.7%  7.9  1.2%
For a more detailed breakdown of seasonally adjusted jobs data
at the sector level, please contact the Center for Workforce Information
& Analysis at 1-877-4WF-DATA, or visit www.paworkstats.pa.gov
Note:
August 2021 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released
September 17th, 2021.

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