Department of Numbers

Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Harrisburg fell 0.3 percentage points in March 2013 to 7.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Harrisburg peaked in January 2010 at 7.8% and is now 0.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.0% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Harrisburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.6% -0.1 -0.6
Pennsylvania 7.9% -0.2 +0.3
Harrisburg 7.1% -0.3 +0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2013 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, National

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Harrisburg peaked in March 2010 at 22,388. There are now 1,819 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 20,015 in February 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 554. Harrisburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Harrisburg 20,569 -817 +420

Number of Unemployed Persons

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 7.6%
March
2013
7.6% 7.9% 7.1% 20,569
February
2013
7.7% 8.1% 7.4% 21,386
January
2013
7.9% 8.2% 7.5% 21,837
December
2012
7.8% 7.9% 7.3% 21,120
November
2012
7.8% 8.1% 7.3% 21,146
October
2012
7.9% 8.0% 7.3% 21,177
September
2012
7.8% 8.1% 7.3% 21,217
August
2012
8.1% 8.1% 7.3% 21,236
July
2012
8.2% 8.1% 7.3% 21,178
June
2012
8.2% 8.0% 7.3% 21,005
May
2012
8.2% 7.9% 7.2% 20,726
April
2012
8.1% 7.8% 7.1% 20,408

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.