The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Business

June 29, 2009

Jobless rate falls

Unemployment here still above Pa., U.S. rates

By Michael Roknick

MERCER COUNTY — Mercer County’s unemployment rate eased to 10.8 percent in April from March’s 11.7 percent rate. However the county’s jobless rate continues to remain well above state and national levels.

County figures were released Monday by the state Department of Labor and Industry and were based on revised figures which reflect additional data. Pennsylvania’s rate in April was 7.8 percent while the national rate was 8.9 percent.

County residents listed as unemployed fell to 5,700 in April from 6,700 in March.

Sharon got a reprieve of sorts: It no longer has the highest jobless rate in the state.

In February and March the city’s unemployment rate was above 14 percent making it the highest unemployment rate of any municipality tracked by Pennsylvania. The city’s 12.1 percent jobless rate in April made it the fifth highest in the state with Hazelton on top at 13.3 percent.

A rate is kept for Sharon because it was Mercer County’s largest city based on the 2000 U.S. Census.

Preliminary unemployment figures for May show Mercer County’s rate was 11.4 percent, making it the seventh highest, tied with Huntington County, among the state’s 67 counties. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate in May was 7.8 percent and the national rate at 8.9 percent.

Cameron County had the highest jobless rate in the state during April at 16.4 percent while Centre County had the lowest at 5.7 percent.

Surrounding counties jobless rates in May were above neighboring counties. Their rates were:

• Lawrence: 8.9 percent

• Butler, 8.4 percent

• Crawford, 9.5 percent

• Venango, 8.4 percent.

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