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State’s jobless rate at 6.4 percent

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Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate plummeted to a five-year low in January.

Its seasonally adjusted rate was 6.4 percent, according to figures released Friday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. That is the lowest figure since November 2008, when the rate was 6.2 percent.

Friday’s numbers precede an upcoming county-by-county employment breakdown provided by L&I’s Center for Workforce Development in Harrisburg.

January’s rate also was four-tenths of a point below the December figure of 6.8 percent, and 1.4 percent down from January 2013 (7.8 percent).

The state’s civilian labor force – people working or seeking work – dropped 8,000 in January to 6.416 million. Resident employment rose 15,000 to 6,005 million and the number of unemployed fell 23,000 to 411,000.

The labor force dropped by 74,000 from January 2013, with employment rising 18,000 and unemployment dropping 92,000.

Nonfarm jobs rose by 500 in January to 5,758,600. There were 1,700 more private sector jobs that month, but 1,200 fewer government positions.

Among supersectors, leisure and hospitality (4,300) and education and health services (4,000) increased at record high levels. Construction added 7,500 jobs, but there were 11,800 fewer jobs in trade, transportation and utilities.

Year over year, nonfarm jobs increased by 28,400 (0.5 percent), the largest jumps being in leisure and hospitality (16,900) and professional and business services (12,200).

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