Pa. jobless rate rises for second straight month
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose for the second straight month in July after dropping steadily for a year-and-a-half.
The state Department of Labor and Industry today said the rate rose to 7.8 percent in July, up from 7.6 percent. It also says a survey of employers found payrolls grew, even as more Pennsylvanians reported being unemployed.
The state’s unemployment rate was below 5 percent before the recession began in December 2007.
Payrolls rose for a second straight month after June’s payroll figure was adjusted higher. But even with a gain of 8,700 jobs in July, they remain about 130,000 below the peak of more than 5.8 million reached in 2008.
Unemployment is estimated at 494,000, up from 479,000 in June.