Unemployment Numbers Rise in December
HARRISBURG (JANUARY 28) -The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) rose one-tenth of a percentage-point in December to 7.7 percent. The MSA has been below the statewide rate for 11 consecutive months. Among the 14 MSAs in Pennsylvania, the Erie MSA rate ranked as the eighth lowest. Statewide, the unemployment rate rose one-tenth to 7.9 percent, while the national held steady at 7.8 percent. Over the year, the MSA's rate was unchanged while the statewide rate was up two-tenths and the national rate fell by seven-tenths of a percentage point.
In December, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs decreased by 1,000 in the Erie MSA to 132,000. Jobs in the MSA have fallen in five of the past twelve months, with four of those declines occurring since August. Despite these drops, jobs were up 100 from the previous year. Detailed industry data for the MSA is not seasonally adjusted (see below).
Jobs in manufacturing were unchanged in December and have held steady at 22,000 for the past three months. While manufacturing was up 300 jobs over the year, the supersector was down 2,000 jobs from December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. This was the largest job loss in any Erie supersector since that time.
As some schools and universities began winter break, education and health services declined by 400 in December. Education and health services has added 3,100 jobs since the start of the Great Recession and was the only private industry supersector to show significant gain in that time.
In December, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs decreased by 1,000 in the Erie MSA to 132,000. Jobs in the MSA have fallen in five of the past twelve months, with four of those declines occurring since August. Despite these drops, jobs were up 100 from the previous year. Detailed industry data for the MSA is not seasonally adjusted (see below).
Jobs in manufacturing were unchanged in December and have held steady at 22,000 for the past three months. While manufacturing was up 300 jobs over the year, the supersector was down 2,000 jobs from December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. This was the largest job loss in any Erie supersector since that time.
As some schools and universities began winter break, education and health services declined by 400 in December. Education and health services has added 3,100 jobs since the start of the Great Recession and was the only private industry supersector to show significant gain in that time.
