Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Altoona rose 0.2 percentage points in October 2019 to 4.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Altoona peaked in February 2010 at 8.5% and is now 4.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.6% in April 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Altoona unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.6%	+0.1	-0.2
Pennsylvania	4.2%	+0.2	0.0
Altoona	4.5%	+0.2	+0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2019 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Altoona, Pennsylvania, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Altoona peaked in March 2010 at 5,283. There are now 2,538 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,173 in May 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 572. Altoona employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Altoona, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Altoona	2,745	+139	+233

Number of Unemployed Persons

Altoona, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate	Altoona Unemployment Rate	Altoona Unemployed
November 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
October 2019	3.6%	4.2%	4.5%	2,745
September 2019	3.5%	4.0%	4.3%	2,606
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	2,505
July 2019	3.7%	3.9%	3.9%	2,360
June 2019	3.7%	3.8%	3.7%	2,215
May 2019	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	2,173
April 2019	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	2,177
March 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.7%	2,229
February 2019	3.8%	4.0%	3.8%	2,301
January 2019	4.0%	4.1%	4.0%	2,394
December 2018	3.9%	4.2%	4.2%	2,504