WASHINGTON: The Pittsburgh-area’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell to 5.7 percent in May, down from 5.9 percent in April, according to state numbers released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Over the year, the rate was up four-tenths of a point. Local numbers were higher than the 5.5 percent rate for Pennsylvania and the national jobless rate at 4.7 percent. The government defines unemployed people as those without jobs who are available for work and who make specific efforts to find employment.
The regional jobless rate, calculated across seven counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, was the 13th lowest among Pennsylvania’s 18 metropolitan statistical areas. Within the region, Butler County’s rate of 5.2 percent was the lowest, while Fayette County’s 8.6 percent was the highest in the region and statewide. The region’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs total fell in May, thanks in part to a 4,400-job dip in college and university jobs as summer break started at area schools.
Administrative and waste services, and administrative and support services each added 1,500 jobs over April. Goods-producing jobs — such as construction and manufacturing — saw an increase of 1,500 positions. Service-providing jobs — including food and beverage stores, utilities and professional and technical services — saw an increase of 1,400 positions. Preparing for summer travelers, the leisure and hospitality industry saw an increase of 3,800 positions over April. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry is scheduled to release statewide unemployment data for the month of June on July 8.
