October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

Download the full PDF for Pennsylvania

Download the summary PDF for Pennsylvania

United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Pennsylvania Employment Snapshot

• In October, Pennsylvania lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 7,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 97,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Pennsylvania’s private sector lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 91,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 26,170, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,833.

• Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.2 percent in October from 62.4 percent and is tied for 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

---

Pennsylvania Payroll Employment

• Pennsylvania lost 1,400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 7,900 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Pennsylvania lost 2,000 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,400 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 12th 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 October were Leisure and Hospitality (1,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,700) and Professional and Business Services (-4,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (51,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (25,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-300) and Professional and Business Services (-900).

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 62.2 percent in October from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Pennsylvania is tied for 32nd 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 62.6 percent in October.