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Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in September, the 29th straight month at or below the national average. SMILESTUDIOAP/GETTY IMAGES
Pa. unemployment remains below national average
Pennsylvania‘s unemployment rate was 4.1% in September, the 29th straight month at or below the national average.
The commonwealth’s total nonfarm jobs reached a 17th consecutive record high.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report Thursday for September 2025. The delay in data is the direct result of the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in September to 4.1%. The U.S. unemployment rate of 4.4 percent also increased one-tenth of a point over the same period. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percentage point above the September 2024 level of 3.7 percent, while the federal rate was up three-tenths of a point from last September.
The commonwealth’s civilian labor force, which is the estimated number of residents working or looking for work, increased by 1,000 to 6,531,000 in September. Employment declined 6,000 from August while unemployment rose by 7,000.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs increased 5,800 to 6,252,900 in September, the 17th straight month at a record high. Jobs increased from August in six of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest increase was in education and health services, which rose by 2,500 over the month to a record high. Financial activities reached a record high in September. Over the year, jobs increby ased 99,900 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors.
