From staff reports
The tri-county area’s unemployment rate continues to fall, with both Venango and Clarion counties showing seasonally adjusted rates for September below the averages of both the state and nation.
According to the state Department of Labor & Industry:
– Venango County’s September unemployment rate dipped more than 2 percentage points from August to 7.8%. In July, the county’s rate had been 11.8%. At this time last year, the rate was 5.1%.
– Forest County’s September unemployment rate fell 2.6% from August to 9.3%. In July, the county’s rate had been 14%. At this time last year, the rate was 7.2%.
Elsewhere in the region:
– Crawford County’s September rate was cut by nearly 2 percentage points from the previous month to 8%. In July, the rate was 12%. At this time last year, it was 4.9%.
– Mercer County’s September rate was slashed by more than 2 percentage points from the previous month to 8.8%. In July, the rate was 12.8%. At this time last year, it was 4.9%.
Statewide, the September unemployment rate is 8.1%, which is down 2.3 percentage points from the previous month; nationwide, the rate is 7.9%.
With payrolls across Pennsylvania at nearly 5.6 million, the state has regained slightly more than half the jobs lost in the past seven months, according to state figures.
