HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) on Friday, March 22, released its preliminary employment situation report for February 2024.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 3.4% in February. This was the fifth consecutive month at 3.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point from its January rate, up to 3.9%.
The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was three-tenths of a percentage point below its February 2023 level of 3.7%, 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 up 14,000 over the month due to growth in resident employment.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 5,800 over the month to a record high of 6,131,700. This was the seventh consecutive record high for Pennsylvania’s jobs count. Jobs increased from January in eight of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in education & health services (+3,700), which rose to a record high.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 71,000 with gains in five of the 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+58,700) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors.
