Area jobless rate lowest in more than 15 years

Robert Tomkavage, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

Nov. 1—The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area dropped two-tenths of a percentage point in September to 5.0% — the lowest rate for the region since May 2007, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

"Generally, the economy has improved greatly," said Steven Zellers, a state industry and business analyst. "There are some who argue we're in a recession, or that we're headed that way, but it appears we're still in a recovery mode in Pennsylvania, and we most definitely are in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton area."

Pennsylvania's rate dipped one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1% and the national rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.5%.

The unemployment rate for the local metro area is down 2.1 percentage points since last September, while the state is down 1.7 percentage points and the national rate dropped by 1.2 percentage points.

Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., a University of Scranton economist, feels it's important the regional rate is following the same trend as the national unemployment rate.

"The unemployment rate is one of the lowest we've seen, and wages are up as well," Ghosh said. "The only thing going against us is the inflation rate, which is high, but it's not because of anything that is particularly true for our economy — it's a global phenomenon."

Ghosh noted that each of the local counties had a sizable reduction in unemployment in September.

The rates for Lackawanna and Luzerne counties dropped six-tenths of a percentage point to 4.2% and 4.9%, respectively. Wyoming County's rate decreased seven-tenths of a percentage point to 4.4%.

Zellers pointed out a gain of 2,900 jobs in the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector over the past year is a positive sign for the region.

"It's continuing to grow and that's a good local trend," he said. "All in all, it's a trend of improvement."

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