Area jobless rates rise on downturn in construction
Fayette County’s unemployment rate rose in November as the county labor pool lost 100 jobs, likely due to a downturn in construction. According to Lauren Nimal, Pennsylvania Department of Labor business and industry analyst, goods producers in the Pittsburgh region trimmed 900 jobs in November. The decline was limited to construction, which fell 1,400 to 55,200 as colder weather set in.
Fayette County’s jobless rates were 10.1 percent in November, 9.9 percent in October and 10.1 percent in November 2009. The number of unemployed residents in Fayette County rose from 6,600 in October to 6,700 in November.
Greene County’s unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent in November from 7.7 percent in October. Greene County had 7.9 percent unemployment in November 2009. The number of Greene County residents employed in October totaled 18,300, which rose to 18,400 in November.
Washington County’s unemployment rates were 8.2 percent in November, 8.1 percent in October and 8.4 percent in November 2009. The number of Washington County residents out of work rose from 8,600 in October to 8,700 in November, according to Department of Labor statistics.
In terms of ranking, Fayette County’s jobless rate in November was the 52nd highest among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Greene County ranked ninth highest and Washington County ranked 24th highest.
Unemployment rates declined in five of the seven counties that make up the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA). They are Fayette, Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland and Washington. Butler County continued to hold the lowest rate in the PMSA (7.1 percent in November), while Fayette County had the highest rate. Among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, unemployment rates ranged from 5.9 percent in Centre County to 15.5 percent in Cameron County.
Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the PMSA fell 0.2 percent in November to 8 percent, Nimal reported. Pennsylvania’s rate declined to 8.6 percent while the national rate went up to 9.8 percent. The PMSA unemployment rate was down .1 percent from November 2009.
“This was the first over-the-year rate decline in the MSA since September 2007,” Nimal wrote in her monthly report.
Manufacturing jobs in the PMSA were up 400, matching the record November increase. “This was the third straight manufacturing increase, with the November gain restricted to durable goods manufacturers. Mining and logging jobs inched up 100 to 6,200, a record high (current data series began in 2003),” Nimal said.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the PMSA increased for the second straight month, up 1,600 in November to 1,122,200. Statewide jobs were up 5,100 to 5,619,700. The PMSA saw an increase of 7,800 jobs from November 2009.
“Goods producers added 2,700 jobs from last November. Manufacturing was the only goods-producing supersector in the PMSA to show an over-the-year decline but the deficit has been shrinking consistently,” Nimal said. “Up 400 jobs from November 2009, durable goods manufacturers showed their first over-the-year increase since July 2007.”
In other areas, service providers added 2,200 jobs in November to reach 986,300. Nimal said the largest gains were in trade, transportation and utilities, and government. She said that all sectors within trade, transportation and utilities added jobs in November, but the bulk of the additions were in retail trade.
“Although it was up 2,500 due to holiday hiring, retail trade showed its smallest November increase since 1993 due to smaller than average gains in clothing stores and general merchandise stores,” Nimal reported.
Government was up 1,600 almost entirely because of an education-related local government gain, she said. Education and health services rose to a record high of 241,000 jobs. Professional and business services jobs were up 400 this month after four consecutive declines. Seasonal declines continued in leisure and hospitality, down 3,600 in November to 103,000, Nimal said.
Service providers added 5,100 jobs over the year. Four of the eight service-providing supersectors showed gains from last November while the other four declined. Education and health services have been showing consistent growth for the past 15 years, she added.