Department of Numbers

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Erie fell 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 4.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Erie peaked in April 2020 at 16.8% and is now 12.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.1% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Erie unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Pennsylvania 3.4% -0.1 -0.9
Erie 4.1% -0.1 -0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Erie, Pennsylvania, National

Erie, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Erie peaked in April 2020 at 20,907. There are now 15,821 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,071 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 15. Erie employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Erie, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Erie 5,086 -128 -1,161

Number of Unemployed Persons

Erie, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Erie
Unemployment Rate
Erie
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.4%
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 4.1% 5,086
August
2023
3.8% 3.5% 4.2% 5,214
July
2023
3.5% 3.5% 4.1% 5,071
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 4.2% 5,220
May
2023
3.7% 4.0% 4.4% 5,512
April
2023
3.4% 4.1% 4.5% 5,735
March
2023
3.5% 4.2% 4.8% 6,022
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.9% 6,240
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.9% 6,234
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 5.0% 6,271
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 5.0% 6,279

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.