Labor and Industry releases February regional unemployment data

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry recently released regional unemployment data for February.

Greater Philadelphia

Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties are included in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA, which includes the city of Philadelphia and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington MSA was down one-tenth of a percentage point from January to 3.6% in February, Labor & Industry reported Tuesday. February’s figure represented a decrease of three-tenths of a percentage point from the same period in 2023, when the rate was 3.9%.

Broken down to the county level, the region experienced generally steady unemployment levels in February, but continued improvement year-over-year.

Chester County’s unemployment rate was 2.5% in February, an increase of two-tenths of a percentage point from January, and a decrease of seven-tenths of a percentage point from February 2023.

Montgomery County’s rate for February was 2.6%, remaining steady from January, and down seven-tenths of a percentage point from February 2023.

Delaware County’s rate was 3% in February, down one-tenth of a percentage point from January, and down eight-tenths of a percentage point from February 2023.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Philadelphia MSA increased 2,300 from January to a record high of 3,097,400 in February.

Berks County

Berks, which is included in the Reading MSA, saw a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February of 3.4%, a decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from January. February’s figure represented a decrease of seven-tenths of a percentage point from the same period in 2023, when the rate was 4.1%.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Reading MSA rose 0.1%, up 200 from January to 180,100 in February.

Pennsylvania numbers

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged in February at 3.4%, according to Labor & Industry. This was the fifth consecutive month at 3.4%.  The unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was three-tenths of a percentage point below its February 2023 level of 3.7%.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 5,800 over the month to a record high of 6,131,700. This was the seventh consecutive record high for Pennsylvania’s nonfarm jobs count. Compared with the same period in February 2023, total nonfarm jobs were up 71,000, Labor & Industry said.

Around the state

Among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, Chester County had the third lowest February unemployment rate, tied with Adams County.

Montgomery County had the fifth lowest unemployment rate for February, tied with Centre, Cumberland and Lancaster counties.

Delaware County had the 18th lowest February unemployment rate, tied with Allegheny, Blair, Dauphin and York counties.

Berks County had the 33rd lowest February unemployment rate, tied with Armstrong, Carbon, Elk, Greene, Lycoming and Tioga counties.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment data for March will be released by the Department of Labor & Industry on April 19, while specific county and municipal data will be released on April 30.