Department of Numbers

Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Harrisburg fell 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Harrisburg peaked in April 2020 at 13.5% and is now 10.3 percentage points lower. You can also compare Harrisburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Pennsylvania 4.0% -0.1 -0.3
Harrisburg 3.2% -0.1 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June 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 April 2020 at 40,057. There are now 30,160 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Harrisburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Harrisburg 9,897 -229 -1,530

Number of Unemployed Persons

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployment Rate
Harrisburg
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.0% 3.2% 9,897
April
2023
3.4% 4.1% 3.3% 10,126
March
2023
3.5% 4.2% 3.4% 10,484
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 3.5% 10,970
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 3.6% 11,104
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.7% 11,342
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.7% 11,345
October
2022
3.7% 4.4% 3.7% 11,382
September
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.7% 11,490
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 3.8% 11,596
July
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.8% 11,633

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.