HARRISBURG, Pa. — Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its employment situation report for November 2014.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate declined by three-tenths of a percentage point in November to 5.1 percent, the commonwealth’s lowest rate in more than six years. The rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point below the U.S. rate of 5.8 percent. The commonwealth’s rate was down by 1.8 percentage points from last November while the national rate declined by 1.2 points over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the number of people working or looking for work – expanded by 5,000 in November. Resident employment was up 27,000 while unemployment was down 22,000.

Total nonfarm jobs were up by 200 to 5,798,300, the highest level since September 2008. Private sector jobs were essentially unchanged (-100). Among industries, the largest movement in November was an increase of 2,600 in construction. Financial activities had the largest decline.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 33,200 (+0.6%). The growth was almost entirely within private industries, with the largest gains in trade, transportation & utilities, construction, and other services. Only two supersectors declined from last November – information and government.

Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.

For more information, visit: https://www.paworkstats.pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/home/19890