Department of Numbers

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lancaster fell 0.3 percentage points in March 2013 to 6.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Lancaster peaked in December 2009 at 7.8% and is now 1.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.5% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Lancaster 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
Lancaster 6.5% -0.3 0.0
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: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, National

Lancaster, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lancaster peaked in February 2010 at 21,041. There are now 3,486 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 17,252 in February 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 303. Lancaster employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Lancaster 17,555 -882 +267

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Lancaster
Unemployment Rate
Lancaster
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 7.6%
March
2013
7.6% 7.9% 6.5% 17,555
February
2013
7.7% 8.1% 6.8% 18,437
January
2013
7.9% 8.2% 7.0% 18,874
December
2012
7.8% 7.9% 6.8% 18,276
November
2012
7.8% 8.1% 6.7% 18,221
October
2012
7.9% 8.0% 6.7% 18,178
September
2012
7.8% 8.1% 6.7% 18,150
August
2012
8.1% 8.1% 6.7% 18,125
July
2012
8.2% 8.1% 6.7% 18,065
June
2012
8.2% 8.0% 6.7% 17,921
May
2012
8.2% 7.9% 6.6% 17,698
April
2012
8.1% 7.8% 6.5% 17,454

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.