Pennsylvania Jobless Rate Fell In March, As Payrolls Grew

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell slightly in March, as payrolls expanded and every economic sector except for construction recorded growth. That’s according to state figures released Friday. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 7.3%, down a tenth of a percentage point from February’s adjusted rate. That was more than a whole point above the national rate of 6% in March. In a survey of households, the labor force remained virtually the same in March, at almost 6.34 million. In a separate survey of employers, payrolls in Pennsylvania expanded in February by 24,000, closer to 5.7 million. Pennsylvania has regained about 60% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the pandemic.