The Pennsylvania unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in September from 8.2 percent in August, the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industry reported Thursday.
The rate is back up to where it was in January, erasing gains made in the spring when unemployment dropped to 7.4 percent, based on a survey of households called the Current Population Survey.
In terms of sheer numbers, 523,000 people were unemployed in September, which is nearly as many as in January and more than at any other time during the year. It was an increase of 7,000 unemployed people over the previous month.
Meanwhile, the labor force grew from August to September, adding 26,000 people to hit a total of 6.33 million.
The state lost jobs in August, according to a separate survey of establishments. The two surveys rarely track perfectly, but when the unemployment rate is rising and the number of jobs is declining, it is a good indication that the employment situation in the state is souring.
Government cut 8,300 jobs during the month, adding to losses seen over the past year. There were 21,200 fewer government jobs in Pennsylvania in September than there were in September 2010.Employers reported a net loss of 15,800 jobs in September.
Job losses were also seen in trade, transportation and utilities, which includes retail trade. That category lost 5,900 jobs over the month. Leisure and hospitality, which includes bars and restaurants, lost 5,400 jobs.
Professional and business services lost 1,700 jobs. Manufacturing was down by 1,500 jobs, and financial services lost 1,400 jobs.
The biggest employment gain was seen in education and health services, which added 5,100 jobs. That sector, which includes hospitals and non-public colleges, was up by 22,600 over last year. The information sector, which includes the striking Verizon workers who went back to work, added 2,600 jobs.
Construction added 1,400 jobs, but mining and logging, which includes jobs in drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, was flat.