According to the most recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, the Pittsburgh region’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate for February was 3.2%. Butler Eagle Graphic

Butler County’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point from January to February to 2.8%, the lowest in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area according to the most recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

Overall, the Pittsburgh region’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate for February 2024 decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.2%.

The statewide rate stood unchanged at 3.4%, while the national rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.9%.

Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland are the other counties in the Pittsburgh region.

Washington was the only county in the region that saw its rate decrease, from 3.1% to 2.9%, making it the second lowest in the region for February.

Allegheny County saw its rate go unchanged at 3%, followed by Westmoreland County at 3.1%, Armstrong County at 3.4% and Beaver County at 3.5%.

Fayette County had the highest rate in the Pittsburgh region at 3.9%.

In counties surrounding Butler that are not classified as part of the Pittsburgh region, Clarion, Mercer and Lawrence counties all came in with seasonally adjusted jobless rates of 3.6%, while Venango County had a rate of 3.7%.

The Gettysburg region came in with the lowest rate in the state at 2.5%, followed by Lancaster at 2.6%.

East Stroudsburg remained the highest region in the state with a rate of 4.3%, while the Scranton region was the second highest at 3.9%.

Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh region went essentially unchanged at 1,168,400 in February.

Statewide jobs were up by 1.2% since February 2023.

Jobs increased from January to February in seven of the 11 “supersectors” in the Pittsburgh area — the broadest groups of industries.

The largest increases were seasonal gains in education and health services, which added 4,300 jobs, while government added 1,900 jobs.

The biggest loss came in the trade, transportation and utilities supersector, which saw a seasonal decline of 1,400 jobs over the past month.

Over the past year, jobs were up in six of the 11 supersectors, lead by education and health services which added 8,000 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality which added 2,600 jobs.