Staff Writer
June 25, 2024

On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report for May 2024.

For the eighth consecutive month, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.4%. This rate is just one-tenth of a percentage point above its May 2023 level of 3.3%, demonstrating remarkable employment stability and underscoring the strength of Pennsylvania’s labor market, even amidst potential economic challenges.

The Commonwealth’s civilian labor force, which includes residents who are employed or actively seeking employment, increased by 9,000 over the past month, reaching a record high of 6,605,000. This growth was primarily driven by a rise in resident employment, which also hit a record high in May. Notably, the number of unemployed residents remained unchanged from April, further solidifying the stability of the job market.

Continuing its record-breaking streak, total nonfarm jobs rose by 19,800 in May to reach a historic high of 6,167,700. This marks the tenth consecutive month of record job counts, showcasing the state’s dynamic and expanding economy. Employment increased from April in nine of the eleven industry supersectors, with leisure and hospitality seeing the largest gain of 8,700 jobs. Additionally, education and health services reached its twelfth consecutive record high.

Over the past year, Pennsylvania added 97,100 nonfarm jobs, with six of the eleven industry supersectors showing growth. Education and health services led the way with 61,000 new jobs.

Note: The data mentioned above are seasonally adjusted to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. May 2024 data are preliminary and subject to revision.

For more detailed information, visit the official Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry website.