Dec 30, 2014 3 min read

Washington County’s unemployment rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point in November, while Greene’s fell by one-tenth.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released seasonally adjusted figures Tuesday, listing Washington County’s rate at 4.9 percent, up from 4.7 in October, and Greene’s at 3.9, down from 4.0.

Each county’s rate was significantly lower than the previous November, when Washington had 6.7 percent unemployment and Greene 5.8.

Both counties were under the national (5.8 percent) and the state (5.1 percent) jobless figures in November, continuing a positive local trend.

Washington has been under the U.S. rate for 21 of the past 22 months and at or below Pennsylvania’s figure for at least the past 26 months. Greene has been below both sets of numbers for at least the past 26 months.

The job market in Washington County diminished in November, as the labor force remained at 108,400 but 200 fewer people (103,100) had jobs. There were 5,300 unemployed, up from 5,100 in October, but well below 7,300 in November 2013.

Greene’s labor force (21,700) and number employed (20,900) each dropped by 100 over the month, as did the number of unemployed (800). The labor force in November 2013 likewise was 21,700, but 1,300 were considered jobless at that time.

Washington is one of seven counties in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 4.8 percent jobless rate in November, a 0.2 percent drop from October. The MSA also includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland.

Butler (4.4) had the lowest figure, Armstrong (5.8) the highest in the MSA. Only Beaver (4.9) and Butler experienced a drop in November; Armstrong held steady.

Washington and Beaver tied for the fourth-lowest figure in the MSA, behind Butler, Allegheny (4.6) and Westmoreland (4.8).

Fayette (5.7) was sixth at 5.7 percent, well below 8.0 from a year earlier. Fayette’s labor force dropped by 100 year over year, but employment jumped 1,100.

The November MSA rate was down 1.5 points from 12 months earlier.

Of the 14 MSAs, State College had the lowest unemployment (3.9 percent) and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre the highest (6.0).

Nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh MSA decreased by 1,000 in November to 1,167,500, but were up 9,700 for the year. Weather was a factor in the dropoff, resulting in 600 cuts in construction and 6,100 in leisure and hospitality. Colder temperatures likely will lead to further job declines.

About 4,400 retail jobs were added during the holiday season.