From staff reports
The tri-county area’s December seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down from the previous month, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.
Venango County’s rate of 4.7% is four-tenths of a percentage point below November and 1.1% below October. In December 2020, the rate was 7.7%.
Clarion County’s rate of 4.2% is eight-tenths of a percentage point below November and 1.7% below October. In December 2020, the rate was 6.6%.
Elsewhere in the region
Mercer County’s rate of 4.8% is eight-tenths of a percentage point below November and 1.2% below October. In December 2020, the rate was 8.2%.
Crawford County’s rate of 4.5% is six-tenths of a percentage point below November and 1.2% below October. In December 2020, the rate was 7.4%.
State, U.S. statistics
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate was down three-tenths of a percentage point over the month, to 5.4% in December.
Over the year, the state’s jobless rate was 1.7% below its December 2020 level and the national rate was down 2.8%.
The state’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — decreased 18,000 over the month.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 14,300 over the month, to 5,804,600 in December. Jobs increased in eight of the 11 industry supersectors.
Trade, transportation, and utilities, which increased by 9,400, made up the largest share of the December gain. The next largest increase was a boost of 3,300 jobs in leisure and hospitality.
The largest volume drop from November was in professional and business services, down 4,100.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 202,200, with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors. Leisure and hospitality had the largest 12-month gain, adding back 80,400 jobs. All supersectors remained below their pre-pandemic February 2020 job levels as of December 2021.
Other supersectors include logging, financial activities, and education and health services.
Additional information is available at www.dli.pa.gov.
