Butler County continues to have the lowest or second-lowest unemployment rate in the region.

In June, the most recent numbers available, the county had an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent. The county had a labor force of 98,000 people, with 93,500 employed and 4,500 unemployed. The statewide average was 5.4 percent.

“We’ve been running low for some time,” said Ken Raybuck, executive director of the county Community Development Corporation.

That same month, Allegheny County had a rate of 4.7 percent, Mercer and Westmoreland both had 5.1 percent, Venango had 5.6 percent, Clarion and Beaver both had 5.7 percent and Lawrence and Armstrong both had 6 percent.

In May, the county had 4.8 percent unemployment and had 4.7 percent in April.

The county consistently has had the lowest unemployment rate compared to its surrounding counties, with Allegheny usually in second. Occasionally, Allegheny has had a lower rate than Butler. In September 2014, Butler had 5 percent unemployment and Allegheny had 4.8 percent.

County Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said there are several reasons he believes for the county’s favorable rate.

One, he said, is the location, which is near Pittsburgh and has access to a few interstate highways and the Turnpike. The second reason he listed is a “great workforce.”

“I’ve talked to companies who want to come here because our people know how to work,” McCarrier said.

He also credited the work of the Community Development Corporation of Butler County — which works to bring companies to the county — and the county’s low tax rates.

“Which makes it attractive to businesses,” McCarrier said.

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry — though it has slowed down recently — has helped with jobs in the area, as well as the expansion of manufacturing facilities in the county.

Additionally, Kosciuszko said the service industry has grown.

“There has been a lot of hotel construction; a lot of new restaurants,” Kosciuszko said.

He also said the Butler Health System and UPMC in Cranberry Township have hired new people.

The county’s population also has grown during the past few years.

Since 2010, the county’s population has grown by 1.1 percent, or 2,081 people. The county’s population is 185,943 people. In 2013, it was 185,476. In 2010, it was 183,862.

Among the surrounding counties, only Allegheny County grew during the past few years. From 2010 to 2014, it has had a net growth of nearly 8,000 people. Its current population is 1,231,255 people.

McCarrier sees population growth and low unemployment trends continuing for now.

“I think it will,” McCarrier said.

Raybuck said the diversity and variety of industries in the county helps keep unemployment low.

“We’re not relying on one single industry,” Raybuck said.

Large companies such as Westinghouse bring people to the county, and Raybuck said more people could be working with current growth projects at Oberg Industries in Buffalo Township, Penn United in Jefferson Township and the Butler Health System facility under construction in Summit Township.

In addition to population growth in Cranberry, Adams and Jackson townships, Raybuck said he thinks that Buffalo Township is poised to expand.