Clinton County’s December unemployment rate hits pandemic low

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The state Department of Labor & Industry released figures Tuesday and Clinton County had a 4.2% unemployment rate for December.

According to Clinton County Economic Partnership President/CEO Mike Flanagan, that is down from 5.2% in November, and from 7.0% a year ago. Unofficially, the 4.2% is the lowest for the county since a 4.3% unemployment number in April 2019.

Flanagan said the high mark for the county in the “covid” timeframe was 16.6% in April 2020. Centre County checked in at 4.0% for December, and Lycoming was at 5.8%. Montour County had the lowest unemployment rate of the state’s 67 counties with a 2.8% reading.

In Clinton County, there were an estimated 16,900 residents employed in December 2021, up 100 from the prior month, and 600 in one year. Flanagan noted the numbers may not take into account anyone who may have fallen off the rolls or had benefits expire.

During the week ending January 15, 2022, there were 78 initial unemployment claims filed by Clinton County residents. The continued unemployment number was 426 for the same week. One year ago, the continued unemployment count was 1,204.