The Pittsburgh area’s unemployment rate dipped one-tenth of a percentage point in November to 4%, a record-low jobless rate in the seven-county region going back to 1976, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.
During November, the most recent figures available, the statewide unemployment rate remained at a record low of 4% while the national rate also held steady at 3.7%. The news was even better in Allegheny County, where the unemployment rate was 3.8% for the month, down from 5% a year ago and the lowest among the seven counties surrounding Pittsburgh that make up the region’s metropolitan statistical area.
The size of the Pittsburgh area’s seasonally adjusted labor force rose 2.7% to 1.13 million in November compared to a year ago, while Allegheny County’s seasonally adjusted labor force inched up less than 1% to 629,500.
The total number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area fell by 400 over the months to 1.15 million in November, but rose by 27,100 jobs or 2.4% compared to a year ago.
Pittsburgh’s economic engine — health services and education or meds and eds sector — gained 1,300 jobs followed by government at 1,000 jobs. Construction and professional and business services each shed 600 jobs during the month.
In addition to Allegheny, the Pittsburgh MSA is made up of Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Kris B. Mamula: kmamula@post-gazette.com
First Published: December 28, 2022, 7:20 p.m.
