Lehigh Valley Job & Labor Market
Information
March 2017 Labor Market Highlights
The PA Center for Workforce Information & Analysis (CWIA) monthly release for March 2017 reports a
seasonally adjusted reduction of 0.6 percent in the labor force and a 0.4 percent decrease in the
overall job gains compared to March last year.
Compared to Last Year
Unemployment Rate 5.0% Down 0.3 Percent
Labor Force
342,300 Down 2,300
Employed
325,400 Down 800
Unemployed
17,000 Down 1,400
Total Jobs
362,900 Down 1,300
Largest Job Gain
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities Up 3,800
Largest Job Decline
Professional and Business Services Down 3,300
United States, Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley Unemployment
Rates March 2007-March 2017
Historically 5.0 percent unemployment rate is 0.9 percent higher than the lowest March
unemployment rate of 4.1 percent registered in March 2007 and 4.5 percent lower than 9.5 percent
recorded in March 2010.
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Current Labor Market Conditions
Lehigh Valley’s seasonally adjusted employment rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent in March
compared to February 2017. Both the state and national unemploymwnt rates declined by two-tenths
of a point over the month; the state rate was down to 4.8 percent and the U.S. to 4.5 percent.
Monthly Job Change
March 2017 compared to
February 2017
Six industry sectors reported month-over-month gains. Mining, Logging, and Construction recorded the
largest job gains adding 500 jobs. Manufacturing and Education and Health Services both reported the
second most job gains each adding 300 jobs. Government added 200 jobs with Leisure and Hospitality
and Other services each adding 100 jobs. Two industry sectors did not register month-over-month
change; Information, and Financial Activities. Two industry sectors reported month-over-month job
losses. Professional and Business Services Trade, Transportation, and Utilities were both down 300 jobs.
Yearly Job Change
March 2017 compared to
March 2016
Four industry sectors experienced year-over-year gains. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
experienced the greatest increase of 3,800 jobs with most of this growth coming from its gains in the
Transportation and Warehousing subsector. Financial Activities added 400 jobs followed
Manufacturing adding 200 jobs and Mining, Logging, and Construction adding 100 jobs. Two industry
sectors did not register year-over-year change; Government and Information. Four industry sectors
experience year-over-year losses. Other Services was down 300 jobs followed by Education and Health
Services down 500 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality & Professional and Business Services exhibited the
largest losses. Leisure and Hospitality was down 2,000 jobs from last year with Professional and
Business Services down 3,300 jobs, with over half of this decrease being contributed by the
Employment Services subsector.
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