MERCER

Local unemployment rate dips; U.S., Pa. rates lower

Mercer County’s unemployment rate dipped slightly from 5.4 percent in May to 5.3 percent in June.

The county’s jobless rate was better than in June 1999 when the rate was 5.9 percent. However, the county continued to lag behind the state and national rate of 4.2 percent.

"The labor force grew by 700 in June as those entering the job market found jobs,’’ said Angela Lenzi, manager of the Mercer County Job Center in Sharon. Gains in seasonal jobs, such as construction and agriculture, were credited for the drop in the jobless rate.

Mercer County was tied for 27th place with Clinton and Lawrence counties among the state’s 43 labor market areas in terms of the best unemployment rate. The county was also tied with the same counties for 47th place among the state’s 67 counties.

Figures show the county’s civilian labor force grew from 57,600 in May to 58,300 in June while the number of employed grew from 54,600 to 55,200 during the same period. The number of unemployed remained the same at 3,100.

Goods-producers added 400 jobs in June with the construction and mining and factories categories each adding 200 jobs.

Service-sector jobs were down by 700 further reflecting local colleges preparing for lighter summer schedules. Also, the federal government cut the number of census workers as data collecting for the latest census begins to wind down.

Cameron County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 8.7 percent while Union County had the lowest at 2.3 percent.

Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates were: