Unemployment rates across region fall in September

Berks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties all experience drops

Unemployment rates across the region decreased from August to September, reflecting continued decreases in Pennsylvania and the nation, according to data released Tuesday, Nov. 1, by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Greater Philadelphia

Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties are included in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA — which includes the city and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, MSA was down two-tenths of a percentage point from August to 4% in September, Labor & Industry said Tuesday.

Broken down to the county level, Chester County’s rate was 2.5% in September, down fourtenths of a percentage point from August, and down 1.4 percentage points from September 2021.

Montgomery County’s rate for September was 2.8%, a decrease of four-tenths of a percentage point from August, and down 1.7 percentage points from September 2021.

Delaware County’s rate was 3.6% in September, down sixtenths of a percentage point from August, and down 2.1 percentage points from a year ago.

Philadelphia County’s September unemployment rate was 5.0%, down seven-tenths of a percentage point from August and down 3.2 percentage points from September 2021.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region decreased 0.1%, or down 3,900 over the month to 2,991,900 in September. Over the year, jobs increased by 4.1%, up 117,500 in the MSA.

Berks County

Berks, which is included in the Reading MSA, saw a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September of 4.3%, a decrease of two-tenths of a percentage point from August. Since last September, the MSA’s rate declined 1.8 percentage points.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Reading MSA decreased 0.1% over the month, or down 200 to 174,300 in September. Since September 2021, jobs rose by 2.5%, or up 4,300 in the MSA.

Pennsylvania/U.S. numbers

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1% in September, matching the lowest rate on record. The national rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point from August to 3.5% in September.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points below its September 2021 level, while the national rate was down 1.2 percentage points over the year. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released state figures for September on Oct. 21.

From April 2020 through September 2022, Pennsylvania has recovered approximately 91% of jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic period.

Around the state

Among the state’s 67 counties, Chester County had the lowest September unemployment rate at 2.5%. Montgomery County was ranked third lowest with 2.8%. Lancaster County was ranked 10th lowest at 3.3%, tied with Dauphin County while Delaware County was tied with Lebanon, Snyder and Susquehanna counties for 20th lowest with 3.6%. Berks County was tied with Armstrong, Blair, Clarion, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties for 36th lowest with 4.3%.

Forest County had the highest rate at 6.2%.

The Gettysburg MSA was, at 3.0%, the lowest among the state’s 18 metro areas. The Lehigh Valley was at 4.1% and Lancaster was at 3.3%. East Stroudsburg had the highest rate at 5.7%.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment data for October will be released by the Department of Labor & Industry on Nov. 18, while specific county and municipality data will be released on Nov. 29.