Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.5% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 1,500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2022.
Total employment in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ market rose by 5,617 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 4.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 39 bps over the same time to 3.8%.
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ unemployment rate is 75 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 250 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 1.1% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.8% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 92,800; -500
- Education & Healthcare: 75,800; +600
- Business Services: 50,100; +300
- Manufacturing: 41,000; +300
- Government: 39,200; +300
- Restaurants & Hotels: 33,800; +1,500
- Other Jobs: 14,000; +100
- Financial Services: 13,800; no change
- Construction, Mining: 13,400; +300
- IT & Development: 5,600; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2022 (Data published April 2022 and reports created on April 27, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.