Pennsylvania had record low unemployment in December: L&I

Pennsylvania (WHTM) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate will drop to 3.9% in December 2022, according to a preliminary report from the State Department of Labor and Industry (L&I).

The ministry said the one-tenth drop was the lowest ever. The federal unemployment rate is 1.6 percentage points below its December 2021 level, according to L&I.

“Pennsylvania’s record low unemployment rate of 3.9% is reassuring. Opportunities abound for workers,” said Acting L&I Secretary Nancy Walker.

The estimated number of residents working or looking for work in Pennsylvania (the private labor force) increased by 9,000 in a month, the department said.

“We also know that historically tight labor markets present their own challenges, especially for employers who need workers with specialized skill sets. L&I’s role as a provider of

From April 2020 to December 2022, Pennsylvania has recovered about 95% of the jobs lost in the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the department.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in December. According to L&I, this national rate declined by 0.4 percentage points over the year.