New data show a precipitous drop in unemployment in Butler County and surrounding counties in August as the economic recovery continues following state-mandated COVID-19 shutdowns.

During the week ending Aug. 15, Butler County's jobless rate stood at 8.5%, the lowest rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area. That figure shows a two-percentage point decrease in unemployment between mid-July and August following a trend seen in both the state and the country as a whole.

Nearby counties saw similar dips. Beaver's jobless rate fell 2.4%, while Allegheny's dropped 1.5% and Lawrence's 2%.

Throughout the state, the unemployment rate dropped to 10.3%, still following the downward trajectory since the April high of more than 16%, although the state's jobless rate stayed higher than the national rate of 8.3%.

The trend in Butler County is likely to continue, based on initial and continued unemployment compensation claims. For the week ending Aug. 15, a total of 7,565 new or continued claims were filed in the county, while that number dropped 14% to 6,508 total claims during the week ending Sept. 19.

Sue Bowser, Butler County CareerLink administrator, said she's noticed the levels of service the office gives are similar to those during the pre-COVID era.

“That seems to be what we're getting, people (who) didn't have access to a computer; now that we're open, we're able to serve them,” she said. “The other services that we offer, like CareerTrac, have been really busy, probably as busy as they were before.”

While a lot of the dips in unemployment stem from employers coming back, regaining their foothold in the market and rehiring laid-off workers, Bowser said she expects a number of people to find new jobs, even if temporary, during the upcoming winter season as retailers prepare for a holiday influx.

“We had one lady come in today who wanted to get a jump on it. She's looking for a job now, before everyone else looks,” Bowser said. “Employers are, hopefully, starting with getting ready for Christmas and the holiday season, but it's hard to tell because of all the uncertainty. It's been an interesting year.”

Consumer spending in the U.S. has risen since April, with consumers spending 1% more in August than in July, a potential good omen for the upcoming holiday season.