Monthly Labor Market Status and Unemployment Rate Rankings Reports

Each month, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry releases the state and county-based unemployment rates. CPWDC analyzes the seasonally adjusted data and provides two detailed reports that put unemployment into a local perspective. 

The Monthly Labor Market Status report compares each of the components of the labor force (size of labor force, employed, unemployed and the unemployment rate) to the previous month and previous year and provides details on what is behind the changes.  Click here to view the December 2011 report. 

The Unemployment Rate Rankings report ranks each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and each of the 22 Workforce Investment Boards based on their monthly unemployment rates.  Click here to view the December 2011 report.

Note: January 2012 data will be released March 16, 2012.

Understanding Labor Market Information: Unemployment Rates WEBINAR: How is the unemployment rate calculated? Who is counted in the labor force? Find answers to these and other labor market information related questions through a recorded webinar that takes you step by step through CPWDC’s labor market and unemployment rate rankings reports. Click here to view the webinar.

Regional Demographics

The diverse characteristics of our nine-county region are illustrated through a statistical snapshot of selected economic and demographic data. Click here to view the regional demographic profile. 

County Demographic Profiles:

Literacy Data

There is a growing interest in understanding the literacy of a given population and how that relates to poverty, earnings, and educational attainment.  Click here to view a report for the nine-county Central Pennsylvania region. 

Self-Sufficiency

How much does an indivdiual need to earn in order to pay for life’s basic expenses without government assistance? The Self-Sufficiency Report, prepared in 2008, compares the costs based on family size and geography in categories like housing, food, child care. Click here to read the entire report. 

• 2010 Update
• Cost Component Comparison (2008-2010) – This document compares the 2008 and 2010 self-sufficiency values in the Central Region by individual cost.

Youth County Profiles

Where do youth work? What types of industries are more likely to hire younger workers? Does more education really pay? These county-specific handouts are designed to provide information on employment trends for youth up to age 24. Click here to view the profiles for each county.

Central Region Fast Facts

What types of career opportunities are available in the Central Region? Want to learn more about the growth potential and occupations in the region’s targeted industry clusters, including the growing natural gas industry?   Click here to view the Fast Facts sheets.

Migration Patterns

Are there more people moving into the Central Region counties?  Are there more leaving?  How does this relate to age, education, and income?    Click here to learn more by reading the Central Region Migration Patterns report.

Commuting Patterns

How many workers in the Central Region also live in the Central Region? How many local residents work outside of the region? Click here to learn more about workers who travel between counties for employment.

Statewide Tools

Each of the following sections is a quick snapshot of Pennsylvania’s many different labor market and economic datasets.  If you are interested in seeing similar indicators at the county or regional level, please contact the research department to discuss your ideas.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Center for Workforce Information and Analysis (CWIA) produces monthly Fast Facts to provide a quick snapshot of statewide demographic, labor market and economic indicators. The Fast Facts include topics like labor force statistics, unemployment insurance claims, and new hires based on statewide data, and a historical comparison of every county’s unemployment statistics. 

• January 2012 Fast Facts (Statewide Edition)

CWIA also produces a monthly comparison of labor market statistics by county. 

• December 2011 Comparison of Local Area Unemployment Statistics (Statewide Edition)

Based on employers that are covered by the federal or state unemployment compensation (UC) system, CWIA produces a quarterly listing of the top 50 employing companies in each county.  Click here to visit CWIA’s webpage to access the top 50 employers by county.

CWIA produces an annul publication that is designed to assist those exploring careers and making decisions about post-secondary education, training and work.  Click here to access CWIA’s Career Guide.