Jobless rates up in Franklin, Fulton counties

August 31, 2010|By JENNIFER FITCH

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The unemployment rates in Franklin and Fulton counties worsened in July, according to the latest data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Franklin County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 8.7 percent. Fulton County's rate spiked to 12.7 percent, compared with 12 percent in June.

Franklin County lost 900 nonfarm jobs, bringing the total available in July to 54,600, a labor department analysis stated. It attributed all the losses to seasonal layoffs in service-providing industries.

Some of the seasonal job losses highlighted in the analysis were school bus drivers, 2010 Census employees and local government positions associated with schools not being in session.

Jobs in Franklin County were down 1,100 (2 percent) compared to a year ago, while the state saw a slight increase in jobs since July 2009.

Franklin County tied with Westmoreland County, in the Greensburg area, for the 20th lowest unemployment rate among Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Fulton County ranked 66th, trailed only by Cameron County and its 14 percent unemployment.

Fulton County lost another 200 non-farm jobs from June to July. The number of non-agricultural jobs available in Fulton County has fluctuated since the recession started, largely dependent on staffing at JLG Industries, but labor department figures show the 4,500 jobs available this July compare to 3,900 in July 2009.

Pennsylvania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.3 percent, while the national rate remained at 9.5 percent.

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