Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog
According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, Schuylkill County’s jobless rate rose by four-tenths of a percentage point to 9.7 percent for the month of December.
The county’s rate is still higher than Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate, which rose one-tenth of a point to 7.9 percent. The national rate stayed the same at 7.8 percent.
The article noted that total nonfarm jobs in the county increased by 300 in December to 56,000. Jobs were up 1,500 or 2.9 percent over the year. Little change was seen in industry jobs over the month.
In retail, there was an increase of 100 jobs. But in mining, logging, and construction, there was a decrease of 100 jobs. It was noted that both are typical for the season.
Good news was found in transportation, warehousing, and utilities which had one of the largest increases over the year with 600 jobs. It’s total of 6,000 set a new record high in Schuylkill County.
In the state, we are tied with four other counties (Clarion, Fayette, Huntingdon, and Somerset) for the 13th highest unemployment rate among the 67 counties in the state.