Lancaster County in Pennsylvania has seen a recent uptick in its unemployment rate, rising to 2.7% in October from 2.4% in September 2024. Despite this increase, the rate remains extremely low, particularly compared to the 3.4% unemployment rate for the state and 4.1% for the nation during the same month. The manager of the Center for Regional Analysis, Rae Ann Miller, has noted that Lancaster’s unemployment rate has been steady and comparably low throughout all of 2024.

According to recent data, the number of people unemployed in Lancaster County increased slightly by 587 between October 2023 and October 2024. Additionally, the number of people working or seeking work, known as the labor force, slightly decreased from 288,100 in September 2024 to 287,900 in October 2024. Furthermore, 4,400 fewer people were employed in September 2024 than in the same month in 2023.

Data from a separate source shows an increase of 2,500 workers from September 2023 to September 2024 and a growth of 100 workers in the third quarter of 2024. Miller suggested the discrepancy may be due to adjustments made to the second set of data.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the state Department of Labor & Industry showed seasonal movements across sectors with the greatest shift occurring in leisure and hospitality, which lost 400 jobs due to the arrival of cooler weather. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s September survey of regional businesses revealed that the biggest challenge faced by both manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms was finding qualified workers. Hispanic and Black workers made up about 30% of new unemployment claims between Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, which is double the percentage of Hispanics and Blacks in Lancaster County’s population. Concerns are rising over changes that might affect the availability of immigrant labor in the county and a evenly divided state legislature that could complicate state law alterations.

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