Lancaster County’s labor market has continued to maintain a strong position, despite an uptick in the unemployment rate in February. The county’s unemployment increased by a tenth of a percentage point to 2.8%. However, the county’s local businesses managed to add 1,400 jobs over the month, according to a preliminary U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The low unemployment, a key economic indicator, is believed to result in improved local consumer sentiment.

Government and health & education services jobs experienced seasonal changes, contributing to this job growth. Furthermore, the education and health service sector demonstrated the most significant gains compared to last year, with an additional 2,200 jobs. New medical facilities and offices in the county have likely contributed to this sector’s boost.

The manufacturing sector experienced a drop, falling by 700 to 37,300 compared to February 2023. This decline contrasts with the sectors peak in the post-pandemic period of 38,900 in July 2022. Even so, manufacturing still makes up a significant part of the county’s total workforce and is the largest contributor to the economy as measured by GDP.

The trade, transportation, and utilities sector saw an increase by 1,200 jobs, which can be attributed to the ramping up of the holiday shopping and shipping season. The availability of these jobs has likely influenced the local increase in positive consumer sentiment.

In relation to contacting unemployment services, anyone in Lancaster County facing difficulty reaching the Employment Development Department (EDD), can visit eddcaller.com. The website offers comprehensive guides on how to contact a live person at EDD California. It includes particular times to call for quicker response rates, among other essential customer service tips that can help you navigate through any issues effectively.