Vanishing jobs put 5,000 out of work in Pittsburgh region
Fewer jobs and more unemployed people pushed November’s jobless rate in the Pittsburgh region up to 5.3 percent. In October, the rate in the six-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area was 5.2 percent.
The shift translates into another 5,000 people out of work in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
“Over the year the labor force has expanded as has the number of unemployed residents while the count of employed (people) dropped,’ Michele Hiester, Pennsylvania Department of Labor industry and business analysts said in her monthly labor report.
For the year, that meant unemployment was .7 of a point higher than November 2001 when the rate was 4.6 percent in the PMSA.
Things were no different in the PMSA counties.
Fayette County’s jobless rates were 8 percent in November; 6.2 percent in October; and 6.4 percent in November 2001. The number of unemployed people living in Fayette County in November was 4,700.
Washington County’s rates were 5.7 percent in November; 5 percent in October; and 4.9 percent in November 2001. The number of residents unemployed in November were 5,600.
Greene County’s rates were 6 percent in November; 5.2 percent in October; and 4.7 percent in November 2001. The number of Greene residents unemployed in November was 1,000.
In key areas in the PMSA, Hiester reported that:
– Pittsburgh and the state realized a slight increase in jobs from October to November. Both were up .2 percent over the month. Gains in area service-providing industries outweighed losses in the goods producing sector.
– Construction realized a 2,200 decline in area jobs. Construction levels typically drop during the winter months, Hiester said. This is reported as a “seasonal’ change.
– Factory employment remained steady over the month with little activity occurring in November. Jobs remained below last year’s level by 2,600 with primary metals producers showing the largest over-the-year decline.
– Factory worker’s hours and earnings remained stable in November. The average weekly paycheck showed little change with an 11-cent drop over the month. Both the average hourly earnings and average weekly hours realized miniscule changes from October to November.
– Retailers added 2,800 jobs in preparation for the holiday shopping season. These were below average increases for this time of year with general merchandise stores and miscellaneous retail charted below November 2002. Lukewarm holiday hiring and the closing of local Ames stores dampened typical November increases in retail.
– Seasonal reductions in amusement and recreation were outweighed by other services industries. Health services added jobs in November with much of the increase spread throughout many health related industries. Educational services continued to realize school related gains coming close to last year’s job levels.
“Government jobs were added mainly in local government education. Compared to levels last year at this time, education related government jobs are at similar levels,’ she said.
Hiester added that in Greene County the number of residents participating in the county’s labor force barely changed from October to November. Employment in Greene fell by 600 jobs in November, she said, adding the reason was a sizeable reduction in mining jobs.