Pa.'s hiring surge in April was largest since 1996

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania employers added 34,000 jobs in April, the highest monthly number since 1996, although unemployment remained at its highest rate in more than a quarter century.

The state Labor and Industry Department said today that many of the jobs added were in professional and business services, tourism, manufacturing and the trade, transportation and utilities category.

Gov. Ed Rendell calls it “really good news for Pennsylvania,” although he acknowledges that the effects of the recession aren’t over. Jobs increased in April nationally and in 37 other states as well.

Despite the jump in nonfarm jobs to a seasonally adjusted level of 5.6 million, the unemployment rate remained at 9 percent as more people start or resume looking for work.

That’s below the national rate of 9.9 percent.