HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania's unemployment rate remained at a record low of 3.4% last month, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
Last month's rate stayed unchanged from September, and remains the lowest rate since L&I began tracking it in January 1976.
The U.S. unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from September to 3.9%. The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was one full percentage point below its October 2022 level of 4.4%, while the national rate was up two-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 2,000 over the month due to gains of 1,000 in both resident employment and unemployment.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were down 4,700 over the month to 6,168,100. Jobs increased from September in six of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in education and health services (+2,300), which rose to a record high.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 129,200 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors. Education and health services (+48,100) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors.
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