Department of Numbers

Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Harrisburg fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Harrisburg peaked in January 2010 at 7.9% and is now 0.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.8% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Harrisburg 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
Harrisburg 7.0% -0.3 -0.7
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: 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 22,353. There are now 2,797 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 18,895 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 661. Harrisburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Harrisburg 19,556 -744 -2,153

Number of Unemployed Persons

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 7.6% 7.0% 19,556
November
2011
8.7% 7.9% 7.3% 20,300
October
2011
8.9% 8.1% 7.4% 20,810
September
2011
9.0% 8.3% 7.6% 21,243
August
2011
9.1% 8.2% 7.4% 20,819
July
2011
9.1% 7.8% 7.1% 19,810
June
2011
9.1% 7.6% 6.9% 19,313
May
2011
9.0% 7.4% 6.8% 18,895
April
2011
9.0% 7.5% 6.8% 19,124
March
2011
8.9% 7.8% 7.0% 19,774
February
2011
9.0% 8.0% 7.3% 20,537
January
2011
9.1% 8.3% 7.5% 21,114

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.