Department of Numbers

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lancaster fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Lancaster peaked in April 2020 at 15.0% and is now 12.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in December 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Lancaster unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Pennsylvania 4.3% 0.0 -0.2
Lancaster 3.0% 0.0 -1.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, National

Lancaster, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lancaster peaked in April 2020 at 41,097. There are now 32,494 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Lancaster employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lancaster 8,603 -60 -3,109

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Lancaster
Unemployment Rate
Lancaster
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 3.0% 8,603
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.0% 8,663
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.1% 8,850
October
2022
3.7% 4.4% 3.2% 9,164
September
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.3% 9,466
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 3.4% 9,755
July
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.4% 9,627
June
2022
3.6% 4.3% 3.4% 9,712
May
2022
3.6% 4.3% 3.4% 9,754
April
2022
3.6% 4.3% 3.5% 10,058
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.6% 10,338

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.