Jobless rate down for December in Franklin County
By STACEY DANZUSO / Staff Writer, Chambersburg
HARRISBURG, Pa. - After several months of rising unemployment rates, the jobless rate in Franklin County dropped in December for the first time since August, according to preliminary figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The December statistics, which were released Monday, list the unemployment rate as 3.9 percent, down from 4.3 percent in November.
Wayne Schopf, a labor market analyst, said he didn't think the figures were too significant and only reflected a temporary rebound due to holiday hiring.
"Construction workers are laid off in December and January. The retail trade people hired for Christmas will also be laid off in January," Schopf said. "I think the figures in January will bounce back up."
December figures do not reflect the most recent round of layoffs at Grove Worldwide in Shady Grove, Pa., and two other Franklin County businesses earlier this month.