Pennsylvania’s July Unemployment Rate at Record Low 3.5 Percent

Commonwealth’s new historic low matches national unemployment rate.

Contact: Trevor Monk, dlipress@pa.gov

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for July 2023.

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate declined three-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.5% in July, the lowest rate on record (back to January 1976). The U.S. unemployment rate was also at 3.5%, down one-tenth of a percentage point from June. The Commonwealth's unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points below its July 2022 level of 4.3%, and the national rate was unchanged over the year.

Pennsylvania's civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was down 9,000 over the month. Resident employment rose by 6,000 over the month and unemployment fell by 15,000. 

Pennsylvania's total nonfarm jobs were up 14,400 over the month to a new record high of 6,149,000 in July. This was the seventh month in a row that jobs have set a new all-time high level. Jobs increased from June in eight of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in education & health services (+6,700), which rose to a record high level. Professional & business services also rose to a record high.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 143,100 with gains in all 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+45,200) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors.

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

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

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Current Labor Force Statistics
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
    Change fromChange from
 JulyJuneJulyJune 2023July 2022
 202320232022volumepercentvolumepercent
PA       
Civilian Labor Force6,4986,5076,480-9-0.1%180.3%
Employment6,2676,2616,20360.1%641.0%
Unemployment231246277-15-6.1%-46-16.6%
Rate3.53.84.3-0.3-----0.8----
     
U.S.    
Civilian Labor Force167,103166,951163,9901520.1%3,1131.9%
Employment161,262160,994158,2722680.2%2,9901.9%
Unemployment5,8415,9575,718-116-1.9%1232.2%
Rate3.53.63.5-0.1----0.0----
Note: August 2023 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on September 15th, 2023.





Pennsylvania Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
(in thousands)
Change fromChange from
JulyJuneJulyJune 2023July 2022
 202320232022volumepercentvolumepercent
Total Nonfarm Jobs6,149.06,134.66,005.914.40.2%143.12.4%
 
Goods Producing Industries854.6854.5846.10.10.0%8.51.0%
  Mining & Logging23.122.922.30.20.9%0.83.6%
  Construction263.2264.2258.0-1.0-0.4%5.22.0%
  Manufacturing568.3567.4565.80.90.2%2.50.4%
Service Providing Industries5,294.45,280.15,159.814.30.3%134.62.6%
  Trade, Transportation & Utilities1,159.61,157.81,147.31.80.2%12.31.1%
  Information97.196.694.10.50.5%3.03.2%
  Financial Activities340.8341.8334.8-1.0-0.3%6.01.8%
  Professional & Business Services872.5868.7845.83.80.4%26.73.2%
  Education & Health Services1,314.11,307.41,268.96.70.5%45.23.6%
  Leisure & Hospitality568.1563.9540.74.20.7%27.45.1%
  Other Services257.2255.4250.31.80.7%6.92.8%
  Government685.0688.5677.9-3.5-0.5%7.11.0%
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: August 2023 labor force and nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on September 15th, 2023.




DLI Media Contact Details

L&I Press Inquiries

Department of Labor and Industry Media

Trevor Monk

Communications Director
Department of Labor and Industry Media

Kate Loyd

Digital Director
Department of Labor and Industry Media