Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Down to 4.3 Percent in January

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for January 2026.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.3 percent from December. The PA rate matched the U.S. unemployment rate, which was also down one-tenth of a point from December.

The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was two-tenths of a point above its January 2025 level of 4.1 percent, while the U.S. rate was up three-tenths from last January.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — was up 12,000 over the month to 6,583,000 in January. Employment was up 17,000 and unemployment declined by 5,000 from December.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 17,900 over the month to a record high 6,201,900 in January. Jobs increased from December in five of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest volume gain was in education & health services, up 10,000 over the month to a record high. Construction also set a record high in January. Over the year, jobs were up 35,500 with gains in seven of the 11 supersectors.

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

Annual Revisions

At the start of each year, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses additional or revised information to adjust prior years’ monthly sample-based estimates. Additionally, seasonal adjustment factors for historical labor force and nonfarm jobs data are updated. That process for Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force and nonfarm jobs data through 2025 has been completed and is reflected in the analysis of January’s preliminary data.

The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. January 2026 data are preliminary and subject to revision.

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