The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for January 2026.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.3 percent from December. The PA rate matched the U.S. unemployment rate, which was also down one-tenth of a point from December.
The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was two-tenths of a point above its January 2025 level of 4.1 percent, while the U.S. rate was up three-tenths from last January.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — was up 12,000 over the month to 6,583,000 in January. Employment was up 17,000 and unemployment declined by 5,000 from December.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 17,900 over the month to a record high 6,201,900 in January. Jobs increased from December in five of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest volume gain was in education & health services, up 10,000 over the month to a record high. Construction also set a record high in January. Over the year, jobs were up 35,500 with gains in seven of the 11 supersectors.
