Pa.’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in October

By: Cassie Miller - November 20, 2020 10:44 am

Across the U.S., millions have lost jobs, paychecks and health insurance. (Getty Images / Spencer Pratt)

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate went down by one percentage point last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry confirmed Friday.

From September to October the rate of unemployment fell from 8.3 percent to 7.3 percent. The department reports that the national unemployment rate also fell by a percentage point to 6.9 percent in October.

The department found Pennsylvania has recovered 56.3 percent of its total nonfarm jobs lost atthe beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April when shutdowns began.

The largest 12-month decline among industry sectors was in leisure and hospitality, which saw the loss of 142,200 jobs, according to L&I data.

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Cassie Miller

A native Pennsylvanian, Cassie Miller worked for various publications across the Midstate before joining the team at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. In her previous roles, she has covered everything from local sports to the financial services industry.