Pennsylvania's unemployment rate declines to 6.6% in November

WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down 0.8 points over the month to 6.6% in November — falling below the U.S. rate of 6.7% in November for the first time since May 2015.

The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 2 points above its November 2019 level while the national rate was up 3.2 points over the year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) on Friday released its employment situation report for November 2020.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — decreased 40,000 over the month as unemployment declined 55,000, while resident employment was up 15,000.

Pennsylvania’s total non-farm jobs were up 21,000 over the month to 5,637,600 in November — the seventh consecutive monthly gain.

Jobs increased in seven of the 11 industry super-sectors. The largest volume gain was in trade, transportation, and utilities, up 10,000 jobs.

Over the past seven months, Pennsylvania has recovered 57.7% of the total non-farm jobs lost in March and April.

Over the year, total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania were down 452,600 (-7.4%) with declines in each of the 11 super-sectors. The largest 12-month change among super-sectors was a decline of 139,000 jobs in leisure & hospitality.