You know the old state slogan, “you’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania?” Well that only applies if you’re an Eagles fan. 🦅🙃 Disclaimer: this author has an Eastern bias.
U.S. unemployment as a whole keeps creeping up, brought to you by a continuing trend of economic craziness. 😵💫 Is PA a bright spot in the chaos. Check out these latest stats. 👇
Here’s Five Fast Facts on employment in Pennsylvania:
- 📈 Jump, Jump - In November, PA’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2%. That’s up a tenth of a percentage point from September and a half point higher than November 2024. Compare that to the nationwide jobless rate which hit 4.6% in the same period.
- 👷🏽♂️ Work It - Even though unemployment numbers rose, the state’s workforce grew in size. Between September and November, the civilian labor force increased by 20,000 (total: 6,551,00).
- 💼 Labor of Love - PA employers added a total of 97,600 jobs over the past year. The number of unemployed folks in PA grew by 7,000, but employment numbers got a boost of 13,000. This signals more people joined or re-entered the labor market (despite it being kinda crappy).
- 📣 Payroll Call - On the payroll front in November, total nonfarm employment grew by 3,500 to 6,258,300. We’re now at month 19 of a record high streak.
- 🏦 Industry Night - Looking at job sectors, five out of 11 major industries across PA reported adding jobs. Education and health services added the most. Hiring was also strong in banking, real estate, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses.
🔥Bottom line: If the math is truly mathing, PA’s economy could be off to a decent start in 2026. Speaking of economic happenings, did you know the Keystone State is one of the best places to succeed in starting your own business? Head over to this article where we dive into the details!
Do you live and work in PA?
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