Erie Unemployment Up in January

HARRISBURG (MARCH 19) -The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) rose three-tenths of a percentage-point in January to reach 8.0 percent. Despite this increase, the MSA has been below the statewide rate for 12 consecutive months. Among the 14 MSAs in Pennsylvania, the Erie MSA rate ranked as the eighth lowest. Statewide, the unemployment rate increased by three-tenths to 8.2 percent, while the national was up one-tenth to 7.9 percent. Over the year, the MSA's rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point, less than the statewide rate which gained six-tenths. In contrast, the national rate has fallen by four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous year.
In January, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs rose 700 in the Erie MSA to 130,600. This movement closely mirrored the decline of 600 jobs in the preceeding December, with jobs in the MSA now down 300 over the year. Detailed industry data for the MSA is not seasonally adjusted (see below).
Manufacturing held steady at 22,700 in January, with jobs up 700 from the previous year. This over-the-year gain of 3.2 percent contrasts with statewide manufacturing which was down 0.3 percent (1,700 jobs).
The end of the busy shopping season brought a typical job decline in the retail trade sector, down 900 in January, as businesses released their seasonal hires.