Published Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002
MERCER COUNTY
Local labor force contracts; jobless rate goes downBy Michael Roknick
Herald Business Editor
A contraction in the labor force helped push Mercer County's jobless rate down from 4.8 percent in November to 4.6 percent in December.
The county's rate was a pinch above the state rate of 4.5 percent but was below the national rate of 5.4 percent.
Mercer County found itself in a crowded field as it was tied for 13 place among the state's 43 metropolitan areas in terms of the best unemployment rate. The county was tied with Allentown, Bethlehem, Easten, Venango and Warren counties. Mercer County was tied with Venango, Warren and Westmoreland counties among the states 67 counties.
Figures show the county's civilian labor force dropped from 58,900 in November to 58,200 in December while those employed also dropped from 5,6100 to 55,500 over the same period.
Those unemployed fell slightly from 2,800 to 2,700.
Forest County had the highest jobless rate in the state at 12.5 percent while Chester and Cumberland counties had the lowest at 2.8 percent.
Surrounding counties unemployment rates were:
Goods producers cut jobs by 300 in December to stand at 12,000. since December 2000 goods producers have trimmed payrolls by 1,000 with the factory sector seeing all of the job cuts.
Service producers recorded a nominal 100-job increase in December to stand at 38,700. Retail trade posted a 100-job increase while the services sector was off 200 jobs.
Sharon's jobless rate in December was 4.6 percent. A rate is kept for Sharon because it's Mercer County's largest city.