A demand for manufacturing workers as well as local colleges returning to full swing were credited for Mercer County's jobless rate falling from 6.2 percent in January to 6 percent in February.

The rate is the same as February 2001. Mercer County's rate was below the state's 6.2 percent rate and the national 6.1 percent rate.

Mercer County ranked 9th among the state's 43 labor market areas in terms of the best unemployment rate and was 17th among the state's 67 counties.

Figures for February show the civilian labor force was 57,000, up 200 from January while 53,600 were employed, a 300 job increase over the same period. Over the past year, the number of Mercer County residents who are working has fallen by 700.

Those unemployed declined by 100 to 3,400 in February. Some of the unemployed may have been recalled to the factory sector following a temporary, seasonal layoff. The volume of unemployed was unchanged from last February.

Goods-producing jobs were up 100 to 11,600 in February as manufacturing added 100 jobs, reversing a steady five month decrease.

Service-producing jobs grew by 500 to 37,400 in February as educational services gained 700 jobs with local private colleges returning to full staffing levels for the new school term.

Production workers earned $31.72 more a week on average than in February 2001 due to a 1.1-hour jump in length of the average workweek coupled with a 38-cents increase in average hourly pay.

Surrounding counties' unemployment rates were: