Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.4% for the fifth consecutive month in February. The national unemployment rate, on the other hand, saw a slight increase of two-tenths of a percentage point, rising to 3.9%. This information was released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) in its preliminary employment situation report for February 2024.

Compared to February 2023, the commonwealth’s unemployment rate decreased by three-tenths of a percentage point. The national rate rose by the same amount over the course of the year. Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, which includes residents working or looking for work, grew by 14,000 people, thanks to the increase in resident employment.

Non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania increased by 5,800, marking a seven-month streak of record highs for the state’s job count, reaching a total of 6,131,700. Jobs in eight of the 11 industry super-sectors saw increases from January, with education and health services showing the most significant gain (+3,700), reaching an all-time high. Over the course of the year, total non-farm jobs grew by 71,000, with education & health services (+58,700) seeing the largest volume increase.

All the data provided are seasonally adjusted and hence, make for the most valid month-to-month comparison. The February 2024 data are preliminary and may be subject to revision. More information can be found on the L&I website or their social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

For those in California who are seeking to understand their own unemployment benefits status or have questions, one can contact the California’s Employment Development Department for more guidance. To reach out to someone specifically over the phone, navigate to the website eddcaller.com, which provides various ways to contact EDD customer service. This site can be a useful tool in helping to streamline the process of getting in touch with EDD.