Butler County saw an increase of a half-percentage point in its October unemployment rate.

The rate increased, according to new figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, from 3.8 percent in September to 4.3 percent in October. The rate reflects an increase year-over-year, as 2019 saw a 3.8 percent unemployment rate in Butler County.

Lauren Riegel, an analyst for the center, said she still doesn't think the rate increase is cause for alarm, despite slight increases in recent months. Butler County unemployment rates for most of the year were so low that recent increases were to be expected, she said.

“To me, it does not look that bad,” Riegel said. “We would want to take a look at the longer term.”

Riegel said to watch how the rate changes over the next few months. If unemployment increases throughout the holidays, then it's time to start worrying about the rate.

Riegel pointed to the data for the entire Pittsburgh metropolitan statistical area, which includes Butler County. The area saw only a 0.1 percent increase in October, while every county within the area saw at least a half-a-percent increase.

The larger statistical areas are generally better indicators, Riegel said, as they pull from more data and the figures are “smoothed.”

In fact, every county in the state saw an increase in October unemployment rates, but the statewide rate increased only by 0.2 percent.

Of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, 39 increased by at least half a percentage point, similar to Butler County.

“Butler was certainly not alone,” Riegel said. “In fact, it was probably right around the middle of the pack.”