Overall unemployment rate moved up to 6.9% with the biggest shift in Government, which lost 4,300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.
Total employment in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ market declined by 1,242 jobs in July and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 6.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ unemployment rate is 124 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 660 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in July versus prior month by 2.4% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.3%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 86,800; -1,200
- Education & Healthcare: 73,300; -500
- Business Services: 46,600; +100
- Manufacturing: 39,100; -100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 36,100; +1,000
- Government: 34,700; -4,300
- Construction, Mining: 13,800; no change
- Financial Services: 13,400; +200
- Other Jobs: 13,200; no change
- IT & Development: 4,900; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through July 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 1, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.