Pittsburgh Area Economic Summary
Updated May 31, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Unemployment rates for the Pittsburgh area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Pittsburgh area, 3rd quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,027; Area = $1,013)
Unemployment rates
4.7
United States
4.1
5.4
Pittsburgh area
4.8
4.9
Allegheny Co.
4.6
4.8
Butler Co.
4.3
6.1
Washington Co.
5.1
5.5
Westmoreland
Co.
0.0
4.8
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
Apr-16
Apr-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Pittsburgh area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Percent
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
Apr-14
Pittsburgh area
Apr-15
United States
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
Apr-17
Total nonfarm
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Apr.
2017
Change from Apr.
2016 to Apr. 2017
Number
Percent
5.9
-0.9
-3.0
-2.6
1.7
0.2
0.9
3.1
2.2
4.5
0.8
-1.0
0.5
-10.2
-5.4
-3.0
0.8
1.1
1.3
1.7
0.9
3.8
1.6
-0.8
1,173.1
7.9
52.2
82.9
214.5
18.4
71.2
186.2
248.6
121.4
52.0
117.8
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, second half 2016
2.0
1.7
12-month percent changes in PPI
Percent
5.0
1.5
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Engineering services
4.0
3.0
0.0
-0.1
2.0
-0.2
1.0
0.0
-2.0
Pittsburgh area
U.S. city average
-4.0
All Items
-1.0
-3.0
Food
-2.0
-3.1
-3.0
Energy
-4.0
Apr-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
Northeast Region average annual expenditures 2015
Apr-15
Healthcare
$4,328
7.3%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,103
12.0%
Food
$6,882
11.7%
Transportation
$9,026
15.3%
Total:
$58,976
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
United
States
$22.77
$23.86
Civil engineers
46.43
43.14
Accountants and auditors
34.53
36.89
Registered nurses
30.65
34.70
Carpenters
25.08
23.24
Mental health counselors
19.95
22.14
Construction laborers
19.48
18.22
Customer service representatives
17.02
16.91
Office clerks, general
15.21
15.87
Retail salespersons
12.82
13.07
Waiters and waitresses
10.18
11.73
Cashiers
9.43
10.43
Cooks, fast food
9.24
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2015.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, December
2016
Pittsburgh
area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$20,817
35.3%
Apr-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$10,820
18.3%
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
Middle
Atlantic (1)
$40.98
26.92
14.06
3.06
1.54
2.85
3.33
1.73
3.10
(1) Middle Atlantic includes NJ, NY, and PA.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$32.76
22.83
9.93
2.28
1.17
1.15
2.63
1.31
2.56
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.5
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
Middle Atlantic
Mar-15
United States
Mar-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Mid-Atlantic Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic • 215-597-3282
Mar-17