WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 3.4% in October.
This was the 13th consecutive month with an identical rate — the longest streak on record dating back to 1976.
The Commonwealth’s rate remained well under the U.S. unemployment rate which was also unchanged from its September level at 4.1%.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) on Friday released its preliminary employment situation report for October 2024.
The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate matched its October 2023 level of 3.4%, while the national rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — was down 25,000 over the month to 6,531,000 in October.
Resident employment (-26,000) drove the labor force decline.
Pennsylvania’s total non-farm jobs were down 1,400 over the month from September’s record high to 6,204,700 in October.
Jobs increased from September in seven of the 11 industry super-sectors.