Department of Numbers

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Erie fell 0.2 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Erie peaked in February 2010 at 9.9% and is now 2.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in May 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Erie 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
Erie 7.8% -0.2 -1.1
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: Erie, Pennsylvania, National

Erie, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Erie peaked in February 2010 at 13,616. There are now 2,861 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 10,584 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 171. Erie employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Erie, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Erie 10,755 -310 -1,575

Number of Unemployed Persons

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Erie
Unemployment Rate
Erie
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 7.6% 7.8% 10,755
November
2011
8.7% 7.9% 8.0% 11,065
October
2011
8.9% 8.1% 8.3% 11,414
September
2011
9.0% 8.3% 8.5% 11,668
August
2011
9.1% 8.2% 8.4% 11,563
July
2011
9.1% 7.8% 8.0% 11,022
June
2011
9.1% 7.6% 7.8% 10,735
May
2011
9.0% 7.4% 7.6% 10,584
April
2011
9.0% 7.5% 7.7% 10,662
March
2011
8.9% 7.8% 7.9% 10,991
February
2011
9.0% 8.0% 8.2% 11,434
January
2011
9.1% 8.3% 8.6% 11,902

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.