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Unemployment rates fall in Pittsburgh region

By James Pletcher Jr. 4 min read

An increase of more than 13,000 jobs in the Pittsburgh region during April helped push jobless rates for the month down. However, the shift was not felt in Fayette County.

While the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) dipped to 5.1 percent in April, Fayette’s rate rose from 7.3 to 7.4 percent from March to April.

Fayette’s labor picture changed little from month-to-month, Michele Hiester, industry and business analyst for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor said in her monthly employment report. In fact, it changed little over the year.

Figures showed that Fayette County’s labor force rose by 300 people in April, as did the number of working residents. However, the number of unemployed residents rose 100, which pushed the jobless rate up .1 percent. In April 2004, Fayette’s jobless rate was also 7.4 percent and the number of unemployed residents 4,900.

However, Washington County’s jobless rate fell from 5.7 to 5.2 percent from March to April. The number of unemployed residents in Washington County also dipped by about 600, according to figures from the Department of Labor. Washington County’s April 2004 jobless rate was 6 percent.

Greene County’s unemployment rates were 6 percent in April, 7.2 percent in March and 6.9 percent in April 2004. The number of jobless residents in Greene fell by 200 in April.

Hiester said that in the PMSA, resident employment gains exceeded additions characteristic in the month of April and unemployment declined, pulling the unemployment rate down a half a percentage point over the month.

“Six out of every 10 residents who left the unemployment ranks became employed in April,’ she said. The labor force also “contracted as some job seekers withdrew from the labor market countering any effects from persons entering the labor market to look for work,’ Hiester said. Pennsylvania also reported a .5 percent drop in its unemployment rate in April, down to 4.9 percent, while the nation’s jobless rate remained steady at 5.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the PMSA unemployment rate was .6 percent point below last April’s rate. Counties included in the PMSA are Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Beaver and Armstrong.

Hiester reported that resident employment continued to expand in April, “up 9,200 when compared to April 2004, while unemployment rolls shrank by 7,000. An expanding workforce and shrinking unemployment rolls points to an improving economy.’

Hiester said total nonfarm jobs in the PMSA increased by 13,200 from March to April. Seasonal gains in construction, natural resources and mining and leisure and hospitality were augmented by gains spread throughout other industries.

“Comparatively, the average March-to-April gain in total jobs since 2000 was 11,100,’ she said.

“Total nonfarm jobs in the PMSA were up 3,400 when compared to April 2004, making this the eighth consecutive month that jobs were above the year-ago-level.

“When comparing April 2005 to previous April job levels, 2005 was the fourth highest April job level since 1990 (in the PMSA). The April 2005 job level was 20,500 below the April high posted in 2001 and was 3,400 above 2003, the lowest April level since the start of the most recent recession,’ Hiester reported.

In specific areas of hiring, Hiester said construction contractors “continued their springtime hiring as expected in April, up 4,300. Specialty trade contractors accounted for more than 50 percent of this increase.

“Trade, transportation and utilities experienced typical gains from March to April. Retailers added 1,300 jobs to their payrolls in April. Building material and supplies dealers added five out of every 13 jobs gained. The transportation and warehousing industry added workers despite significant layoffs at US Airways.

“Professional and business services employment expanded over the month. Typical additions in support services (landscaping) and professional services (tax preparation) occurred, outweighing layoffs at Marconi Corp. in April,’ Hiester said.

She also reported that seasonal gains continued in the leisure and hospitality industry. Accommodation and food services establishments added 1,800 jobs to their payrolls out of the 4,100 jobs added to the entire leisure and hospitality industry. “This leaves the bulk of the April gains occurring in the arts, entertainment and recreation industries,’ she said.

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