Department of Numbers

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Altoona fell 0.0 percentage points in February 2021 to 7.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Altoona peaked in April 2020 at 17.4% and is now 10.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.4% in December 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Altoona unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate February 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
National 6.2% -0.1 +2.7
Pennsylvania 7.3% 0.0 +2.3
Altoona 7.1% 0.0 +2.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with February 2021 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Altoona, Pennsylvania, National

Altoona, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Altoona peaked in April 2020 at 10,761. There are now 6,593 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,723 in December 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 445. Altoona employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Altoona, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons February 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
Altoona 4,168 -4 +1,261

Number of Unemployed Persons

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate		 Altoona
Unemployment Rate		 Altoona
Unemployed
March
2021		 6.0% — — —
February
2021		 6.2% 7.3% 7.1% 4,168
January
2021		 6.3% 7.3% 7.1% 4,172
December
2020		 6.7% 7.1% 6.4% 3,723
November
2020		 6.7% 7.1% 6.5% 3,742
October
2020		 6.9% 7.0% 6.6% 3,801
September
2020		 7.8% 7.1% 7.3% 4,265
August
2020		 8.4% 10.2% 9.6% 5,426
July
2020		 10.2% 13.0% 11.8% 6,832
June
2020		 11.1% 13.3% 11.8% 6,845
May
2020		 13.3% 13.5% 13.5% 8,177
April
2020		 14.8% 16.2% 17.4% 10,761

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. ↩

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