The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area has witnessed a slight increase in its unemployment rate, registering a jump of half a percentage point to 4.1% in April, when compared to the same period last year. This data comes straight from the Department of Labor & Industry at the state level. Satyajit Ghosh, a University of Scranton economics professor, has delineated this yearly variance as somewhat important, commenting that it reflects both statewide and national trends. According to Ghosh, while a half percentage point increase should not be disregarded, one doesn’t need to panic as the current rate is still low.

Ghosh also pointed out that the present unemployment rate is half a percentage point lower than what it was in March. However, he cautioned that this type of unemployment rate, which isn’t seasonally adjusted, can be misleading due to its inability to successfully filter out seasonal fluctuations. Ghosh further explained that employment in summer can’t be compared with employment during winter due to such variables.

Turning towards a broader perspective, the statewide unemployment rate stood at 3.5% in April, marking an increase of four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous year. The national rate also increased by the same margin and was reported at 3.9%. According to industry data, since April of the previous year, the metro area added 3,400 jobs — a 1.3% increase, albeit below the 1.6% statewide increase. Particularly, the education and health service sector achieved a new high of 57,000 jobs in April.

If you are facing unemployment and need to reach out to California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), consider visiting eddcaller.com. This site provides comprehensive information on ways to interact with the EDD, including phone numbers, instructions on getting a live person on the line, and the best time to call. With these resources, you can remain informed about your unemployment case and receive the support you need during a challenging job loss.