November 2024 | Released December 19, 2024

Released January 08, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In November, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In November, payroll jobs rose in 39 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Washington. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Vermont.

Pennsylvania Employment Snapshot

• In November, Pennsylvania lost 2,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 1,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 90,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 227,000 in November, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In November, Pennsylvania’s private sector lost 3,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 81,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In November, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 28,386, and over the past 12 months it fell by 38,348.

• Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.9 percent in November from 62.2 percent and is tied for 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Pennsylvania Payroll Employment

• Pennsylvania lost 2,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 1,400 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 227,000 in November, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Pennsylvania lost 3,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 1,100 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 194,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during November were Education and Health Services (3,100) and Construction (800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,500) and Professional and Business Services (-3,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (47,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (26,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-2,600) and Professional and Business Services (-3,500).

Pennsylvania Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania fell to 61.9 percent in November from 62.2 percent in the prior month.

• Pennsylvania is tied for 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.3 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in November.