Pittsburgh region's jobless rate drops to 3.8%, lowest since 1976
The seven-county Pittsburgh region’s 3.8% unemployment rate in April was the lowest jobless rate on record since 1976, the state said Tuesday.
The jobless rate for the region — Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties — fell .1% from March to April, based on seasonal hiring factors. The rate in April 2018 was 4.3%, according to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.
As the unemployment rate fell, however, the labor force — those working or looking for jobs — shrunk by 400 to 1.21 million, as adjusted for seasonal hiring factors, the state said.
The Pittsburgh region’s economy continued to show growth in April as the number of jobs rose to 1.93 million, up 11,100 from March and up 7,300 from a year ago. Those jobs figures are not adjusted for seasonal factors. Employment among residents living in the seven counties increased by 500 in April to 1.67 million but was 17,000 more than a year ago.
Jobs in the goods-producing sectors — such as construction — increased by 2,300 and the service sector expanded from March to April by 9,500 jobs to 1.03 million. The professional and business services sector added 4,500 jobs from March to April.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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