Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Altoona fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 6.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Altoona peaked in January 2010 at 7.9% and is now 1.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.4% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Altoona unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Pennsylvania	7.6%	-0.3	-0.9
Altoona	6.7%	-0.3	-0.8

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Altoona, Pennsylvania, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Altoona peaked in February 2010 at 5,081. There are now 733 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,105 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 243. Altoona employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Altoona, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Altoona	4,348	-160	-455

Number of Unemployed Persons

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate	Altoona Unemployment Rate	Altoona Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	7.6%	6.7%	4,348
November 2011	8.7%	7.9%	7.0%	4,508
October 2011	8.9%	8.1%	7.1%	4,626
September 2011	9.0%	8.3%	7.3%	4,747
August 2011	9.1%	8.2%	7.2%	4,674
July 2011	9.1%	7.8%	6.8%	4,386
June 2011	9.1%	7.6%	6.6%	4,232
May 2011	9.0%	7.4%	6.4%	4,105
April 2011	9.0%	7.5%	6.4%	4,135
March 2011	8.9%	7.8%	6.6%	4,258
February 2011	9.0%	8.0%	6.9%	4,419
January 2011	9.1%	8.3%	7.1%	4,561