County unemployment rate shows improvement

HARRISBURG, PA – Clinton County’s employment situation improve slightly in March, registering a 7.2% monthly unemployment rate, down from February’s 7.5% reading.

According to information released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry, Clinton County had an estimated 1,300 people unemployed and 16,200 people employed for a total estimated workforce of 17,500. The estimates were basically the same in February, with 100 less people employed.

The March rate for the county was good for no. 35 out of the state’s 67 counties. In February, Clinton checked in at no. 38. Centre County’s March unemployment rate was 5.5%, and a no. 9 ranking. Montour County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.6% and Philadelphia County was last at 10.8%. The Pennsylvania jobless rate was 7.3% in March.

While the rate showed a small improvement in the county, state records show that 457 county residents have had unemployment benefits expire since the beginning of 2021.

“We are always pleased to see county employment improvements, albeit the small increases,” said Clinton County Economic Partnership President Mike Flanagan. “But we are still almost two full points above what the rate was before the pandemic hit more than a year ago. The good news is that there are plenty of employment opportunities out there for anyone that wants one.”