HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) shared its preliminary employment situation report for April 2024 on Friday, releasing the current Pennsylvania unemployment rate.
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate for April was 3.4%. The rate has now remained at 3.4% for seven consecutive months. A year ago, April 2023, the rate was also 3.4%.
The United States unemployment rate however rose by one-tenth of a percent from the March rate of 3.9%.
The Pennsylvania civilian labor force, which is the estimated number of residents working or seeking work, was up 17,000 over the month of April because of growth in resident employment. The state's total nonfarm jobs increased by 2,600 over April, reaching a record-high 6,149,500. This is the ninth consecutive record high for Pennsylvania's jobs count.
The increase in jobs from March spanned six of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest growth coming from a gain of 4,000 jobs in education and health services. The supersector rose to a record high for the 11th consecutive month.
Over the course of the year, nonfarm jobs were up 81,000 with an increase in six of the supersectors. Education & health services had the largest over-the-year gain (+58,000).