News Summary
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.9% in May 2025, remaining lower than the national average. Despite a decrease in the labor force and a slight rise in unemployed individuals, the state saw job growth with nonfarm jobs reaching a record 6.2 million. Job additions were notably strong in leisure and hospitality, alongside other sectors that contributed to overall employment growth of 89,200 jobs over the past year.
Pennsylvania maintained its unemployment rate at 3.9% for May 2025, according to data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. This figure is below the national unemployment rate, which stands at 4.2%, also unchanged from the previous month.
Notably, the state’s unemployment rate reflects a 0.3 percentage point increase compared to 3.6% in May 2024. The number of people employed within the state decreased by 6,000 within the same timeframe, leading to a total civilian labor force decline of 4,000, bringing the labor force to 6,545,000.
The number of unemployed individuals in Pennsylvania rose by 2,000, contributing to the stable unemployment rate despite a decline in the overall workforce. In contrast, there is some positive news regarding job growth as total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania rose by 2,000, reaching a record 6,223,400 jobs. This marks the 13th consecutive month of record-high job levels in the state.
Sector Performance and Job Growth
Job growth in May was particularly strong in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 2,500 jobs, representing the largest gain for the month. Along with this sector, the other services category also reached record-high employment levels during May.
Over the past year, Pennsylvania has added a total of 89,200 jobs, with increases seen across seven of the eleven industry supersectors. Notably, the education and health services sector has driven much of this growth, adding 46,300 jobs since May 2024.
Labor Force Insights
The decrease in the civilian labor force could indicate a variety of factors, including potential shifts in workforce participation, demographic changes, or economic cycles influencing workforce engagement. Employers and analysts closely monitor changes in these dynamics to anticipate future job market trends.
The employment statistics released on June 20, 2025, are preliminary and subject to revision. As such, they should be interpreted with the understanding that future data revisions could alter the overall employment narrative within the state.
Conclusion
With Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate stable amid ongoing job growth, economic observers will be paying close attention to upcoming reports to see if these trends continue. The state’s lower unemployment rate compared to the national average is a sign of resilience in the local economy, although the slight decline in the labor force and employment presents challenges.
For further details and analysis, individuals can refer to the full employment data available on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry website at www.dli.pa.gov.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Explore Jefferson: Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.9%
- Times Leader: Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.9%
- ABC 27: Pennsylvania Unemployment Remained Steady in May
- Google Search: Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Unemployment
