Jobless rates plunge in Washington, Greene
The unemployment rates for Washington and Greene counties dropped significantly in November.
Washington’s rate was 6.0 percent, down four-tenths of a point from October, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. Greene’s figure was 6.8 percent, 0.7 below the previous month’s rate.
The report was a mix of good and bad for the two local counties. Jobless figures for both remained above those of the U.S. (4.6) and Pennsylvania (5.7). Washington has exceeded or equaled the national and state rates for the past 16 months; Greene has been above both levels since February 2015.
Washington’s 6.0 rate also was above its November 2015 figure of 5.4 percent. Greene’s figure rose 0.7 percent over the year, from 6.1 percent.
Both counties, however, have posted a decline each of the past two months. Both also have rallied since hitting a 2016 monthly high in April — when Greene’s rate was 8.1 percent, Washington’s 6.8.
Greene’s 6.8 figure for November was its lowest monthly rate since January.
Washington is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, which experienced a 0.3 percent decline in November to 5.8. The MSA also is composed of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland counties and the city of Pittsburgh.
Butler had the lowest rate among counties in the MSA — 5.1 percent — while Fayette had the highest (7.8). Washington was fourth, behind Butler, Allegheny (5.2) and Westmoreland (5.7) and ahead of Beaver (6.2), Armstrong (6.9) and Fayette.
Among the state’s 67 counties, Chester (3.8 percent) had the lowest rate and Forest (8.0) the highest.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs increased by 4,600 to 1,168,900 in the Pittsburgh MSA. Over the year, jobs were up 0.7 percent in the MSA and the state.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector had the largest increase in jobs (5,300), thanks largely to holiday hiring. The biggest decreases were in leisure and hospitality (2.300) and construction (1,500).