Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate At 3.9 Percent in April, Total Nonfarm Jobs Set 12th Straight Record High

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for April 2025. 

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 3.9 percent in April. The Commonwealth’s rate remained below the U.S. unemployment rate which was unchanged over the month at 4.2 percent.  

The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was three-tenths of a percentage point above the April 2024 level of 3.6 percent, mirroring the US rate increase from last April.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 6,000 over the month to 6,548,000 in April. Both employment (+2,000) and resident unemployment (+4,000) were up from March.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 8,500 over the month to 6,223,800 in April, the 12th consecutive record high. Jobs increased from March in six of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest movement was in education & health services, which added 5,000 jobs over the month. Education & health services, leisure & hospitality, and other services rose to record high levels in April.

Over the year, jobs were up 95,700 with gains in seven of the 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+50,900) had the largest volume increase since April 2024.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on FacebookX, and LinkedIn.

Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. April 2025 data are preliminary and subject to revision.

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Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
    Change fromChange from
 AprilMarchAprilMarch 2025April 2024
 202520252024volumepercentvolumepercent
PA       
Civilian Labor Force6,5486,5426,60260.1%-54-0.8%
Employment6,2936,2916,36520.0%-72-1.1%
Unemployment25625223741.6%198.0%
Rate3.93.83.60.1----0.3----
        
U.S.       
Civilian Labor Force171,109170,591167,9885180.3%3,1211.9%
Employment163,944163,508161,4954360.3%2,4491.5%
Unemployment7,1657,0836,492821.2%67310.4%
Rate4.24.23.90.0----0.3----
        
        

Note: May 2025 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on June 20th, 2025.

 

Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
    Change fromChange from
 AprilMarchAprilMarch 2025April 2024
 202520252024volumepercentvolumepercent
        
Total Nonfarm Jobs6,223.86,215.36,128.18.50.1%95.71.6%
        
Goods Producing Industries841.7844.2844.2-2.5-0.3%-2.5-0.3%
  Mining & Logging21.622.021.8-0.4-1.8%-0.2-0.9%
  Construction258.7260.5258.9-1.8-0.7%-0.2-0.1%
  Manufacturing561.4561.7563.5-0.3-0.1%-2.1-0.4%
        
Service Providing Industries5,382.15,371.15,283.911.00.2%98.21.9%
  Trade, Transportation & Utilities1,143.91,142.81,138.51.10.1%5.40.5%
  Information89.189.491.4-0.3-0.3%-2.3-2.5%
  Financial Activities341.1340.1340.01.00.3%1.10.3%
  Professional & Business Services844.1843.1836.11.00.1%8.01.0%
  Education & Health Services1,404.11,399.11,353.25.00.4%50.93.8%
  Leisure & Hospitality583.5580.8567.62.70.5%15.92.8%
  Other Services270.6269.9259.90.70.3%10.74.1%
  Government705.7705.9697.2-0.20.0%8.51.2%
        
        
For a more detailed breakdown of seasonally adjusted jobs data at the sector level, please contact the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis at 1-877-4WF-DATA, or visit www.paworkstats.pa.gov
        
Note: May 2025 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on June 20th, 2025.  

DLI Media Contact Details

L&I Press Inquiries

Department of Labor and Industry Media

Trevor Monk

Communications Director
Department of Labor and Industry Media

Danielle Woods

Press Secretary
Department of Labor and Industry Media