Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Contact 90.5 WESA with a story idea or news tip: news@wesa.fm

Pennsylvania Payrolls Hits Record High, Jobless Rate Flat

Allyson Ruggieri
/
90.5 WESA

Pennsylvania's payrolls crept to a record high in March as the unemployment rate remained flat for a 10th straight month.

The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in March for the 10th straight month. The national rate is 4.1 percent.

A survey of households found Pennsylvania's civilian labor force shrank by 18,000, falling further below its 2012 record high as employment and unemployment dropped.

A separate survey of employers showed seasonally adjusted non-farm payrolls rose by about 2,700 in March, which was good enough to reach a record high just above 6 million.

Friday's figures are preliminary and could change.

The education and health services sector saw the biggest gain. Sectors with the biggest losses were manufacturing and financial activities.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.