Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Harrisburg rose 0.1 percentage points in August 2021 to 5.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Harrisburg peaked in April 2020 at 14.0% and is now 8.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.0% in May 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Harrisburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | August 2021 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 5.2% | -0.2 | -3.2 |
| Pennsylvania | 6.4% | -0.1 | -3.8 |
| Harrisburg | 5.3% | +0.1 | -2.9 |
Unemployment Rate: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Harrisburg peaked in April 2020 at 41,243. There are now 25,695 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 14,948 in May 2021, the number of unemployed has now grown by 600. Harrisburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | August 2021 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 15,548 | +299 | -8,589 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate |
Harrisburg Unemployment Rate |
Harrisburg Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2021 |
4.8% | 6.2% | — | — |
| August 2021 |
5.2% | 6.4% | 5.3% | 15,548 |
| July 2021 |
5.4% | 6.5% | 5.2% | 15,249 |
| June 2021 |
5.9% | 6.9% | 5.1% | 14,989 |
| May 2021 |
5.8% | 7.0% | 5.0% | 14,948 |
| April 2021 |
6.1% | 7.1% | 5.9% | 17,626 |
| March 2021 |
6.0% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 17,714 |
| February 2021 |
6.2% | 7.4% | 5.8% | 17,554 |
| January 2021 |
6.3% | 7.3% | 5.8% | 17,121 |
| December 2020 |
6.7% | 7.1% | 5.6% | 16,733 |
| November 2020 |
6.7% | 7.1% | 5.7% | 17,130 |
| October 2020 |
6.9% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 17,566 |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
