HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate edged down to 4.2 percent in February even as job losses spread across most major industries, according to new state labor data.
What This Means for You
- Unemployment declined slightly despite job losses in several sectors
- Education, healthcare, and logistics jobs saw the largest monthly declines
- Pennsylvania’s job market continues to outperform national unemployment trends
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reported the state’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point from January. During the same period, the national unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent.
Labor Force and Employment Trends
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — meaning residents who are working or actively seeking work — increased by 5,000 to 6,588,000 in February.
Employment rose by 7,000 over the month, while the number of unemployed residents declined by 2,000.
Over the past year, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.1 percent in February 2025, while the national rate rose more sharply by two-tenths of a percentage point.
Job Losses Across Industries
Total nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania stood at 6,178,600 in February.
Jobs declined in eight of the state’s 11 major industry sectors. The largest monthly losses occurred in:
- Trade, transportation, and utilities, down 5,900 jobs
- Education and health services, down 5,900 jobs
The only notable monthly gain was in the “other services” category, which added 1,100 jobs.
Year-Over-Year Growth
Despite recent declines, total jobs in Pennsylvania increased by 18,800 over the past year, with growth in seven of the 11 industry sectors.
The largest annual gain came in education and health services, which added 28,500 jobs compared to February 2025.
National Comparison
Nationally, the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in February, according to federal data.
About 7.6 million Americans were unemployed, with approximately 1.9 million classified as long-term unemployed, meaning they had been out of work for 27 weeks or longer.
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