Washington’s jobless rate falls to 4.0 percent, Greene’s to 4.5
The unemployment rates in Washington and Greene counties each declined three-tenths of a percentage point in July.
Washington’s rate fell to 4.0 percent and Greene’s to 4.5 percent, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. Over the year, unemployment has declined significantly in both counties – 1.1 percent in Washington (from 5.1) and 1.2 percent in Greene (from 5.7).
The Washington County figure is slightly above the Pennsylvania rate of 4.2 percent, and equals the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area 4.0 rate – a dip of one-tenth of a point from June. The U.S. jobless figure likewise has fallen 0.1 percent to 3.9.
Washington County’s labor force, according to Labor & Industry, was 105,300 in July; there were 4,200 listed as out of work, 300 fewer than in June. Greene, for the third straight month, had a labor force of 16,300. There were 700 listed as unemployed, a drop of 100 from the previous month.
Washington and Westmoreland tied for the third-lowest countywide rate in the MSA, which also consists of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Fayette counties, plus Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh MSA had the eighth-lowest jobless rate among Pennsylvania’s 18 MSAs.
Allegheny and Butler counties tied for the lowest jobless figure in the MSA, 3.7 percent, followed by Washington and Westmoreland. Beaver (5.1), Armstrong (4.7) and Fayette (5.4) ranked fifth through seventh. Fayette’s rate dipped two-tenths of a point from June, and was well below its July 2017 figure of 6.6 percent.
Among the state’s 67 counties, Chester had the lowest jobless rate (2.9 percent). Forest (5.7) had the highest.
Total nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh MSA increased by 1,300 from June to July to 1,185,100. Over the year, jobs increased by 0.9 percent in the MSA, a bump of 10,900. Jobs statewide increased by 1.2 percent.
Government experienced the largest month-to-month decrease in jobs – 6,700 – while trade, transportation and utilities lost 3,000. The education and health services supersector posted the largest gain in jobs (1,500).