Pennsylvanians looking for job opportunities will find a welcoming environment in the Keystone State, with a record low unemployment rate of 3.4% in April, compared to the national rate of 3.9%. Maisum Murtaza, a research associate at the Keystone Research Center, pointed out that this positive trend has been consistent, with the rate hovering between 3.2% and 3.4% over the past year. The job market is recovering from the impact of COVID-19, giving workers more power in the labor market and increasing their buying power.
Murtaza mentioned that real wages have started to rise in the past 12 months, attributed to the low unemployment rates and controlled inflation in the state. Pennsylvania saw an increase in nonfarm jobs to over 6 million, with 2,600 jobs added in April and a ninth consecutive monthly increase. The state added 81,000 jobs to its overall employment over the last year, with education and health services leading the way.
Over the last 12 months, education and health services gained over 58,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. The leisure and hospitality industry, which was hit hardest during the COVID years, is still in the process of recovery. Government employment also saw significant growth, ranking third in terms of percentage increase in employment over the last year.
Pennsylvania reflects a national trend of historically low unemployment rates for Black workers, with only a minor recent uptick. This suggests an overall positive trend, with fluctuations likely to be temporary adjustments in the data.