Pennsylvania unemployment rate slightly down, payrolls up in June

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s unemployment and labor force shrunk slightly in June as payrolls rose, according to state data released Friday.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.9% from May’s adjusted rate, the Department of Labor and Industry said. The initial May rate was 6.9%, but was revised upwards to 7%.

The national rate was 5.9% in June, a point below Pennsylvania’s.

The numbers come out as employers still struggle to find workers, particularly in the hospitality industry.

In a household survey, the labor force shrank by 2,000 in June, to nearly 6.3 million, as the number of people in work grew slightly and the number of unemployed fell. Just before the pandemic hit, the state reached a record workforce of nearly 6.6 million.

In a separate survey of employers, payrolls in Pennsylvania rose 11,500 in June, almost to 5.7 million.

Pennsylvania has regained about 60% of the 1.1 million jobs lost during the pandemic. It hit a record payroll high of 6.1 million just before the pandemic hit, according to state figures.

The public sector led all the winners, adding 13,500 jobs, while construction led the losers, losing 4,000 jobs, while education and health services lost just over 2,000.