Southwestern Pennsylvania jobless rate remains at record low

The unemployment rate in Southwestern Pennsylvania held steady at a nearly 50-year record low in October, according to state data.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh region was unchanged last month at 3.5%, the lowest since records dating back to January 1976, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry report. The region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

The region’s rate was 1.0 percentage points below its October 2022 level of 4.5%.

As for the rest of the state, the unemployment rate also remained at 3.4% in October. The national rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from September to 3.9%.

Non-farm jobs in the Pittsburgh region rose by 300 over the month to almost 1.2 million in October. Statewide, jobs were up by 2.1% since the same time last year.

Between September and October, jobs increased in six of 11 categories, according to the Department of Labor & Industry.

The largest increase of 7,000 was seen in education and health services. That increase was mostly due to seasonal work, the department noted.

Trade, transportation, and utilities added 500 jobs. Government’s 400 job gains “were also likely continuing seasonal increases,” the department reported.

Leisure and hospitality’s increase of 500 over-the-month was in line with the trend seen in recent years for October, the state found.

As for declines, the biggest drop – about 1,500 – was in professional and business services followed by manufacturing and construction.

Here’s a look at the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by county in Southwestern Pennsylvania during October:

• Allegheny County: 3.7%
• Armstrong County: 4.3%
• Beaver County: 4.5%
• Butler County: 3.4%
• Fayette County: 5.0%
• Washington County: 3.9%
• Westmoreland County: 4.0%

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry