Reading, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Reading rose 0.1 percentage points in July 2019 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Reading peaked in December 2009 at 9.2% and is now 5.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in April 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Reading unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.2
Pennsylvania	3.9%	+0.1	-0.3
Reading	3.8%	+0.1	-0.3

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

Unemployment Rate: Reading, Pennsylvania, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Reading, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Reading peaked in March 2010 at 19,337. There are now 11,155 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,940 in May 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 242. Reading employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Reading, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Reading	8,182	+239	-581

Number of Unemployed Persons

Reading, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate	Reading Unemployment Rate	Reading Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	—	—
July 2019	3.7%	3.9%	3.8%	8,182
June 2019	3.7%	3.8%	3.7%	7,943
May 2019	3.6%	3.8%	3.7%	7,940
April 2019	3.6%	3.8%	3.7%	7,962
March 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	8,154
February 2019	3.8%	4.0%	3.9%	8,389
January 2019	4.0%	4.1%	4.0%	8,613
December 2018	3.9%	4.2%	4.2%	8,861
November 2018	3.7%	4.2%	4.2%	8,873
October 2018	3.8%	4.2%	4.2%	8,871