Department of Numbers

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Scranton fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Scranton peaked in April 2020 at 17.5% and is now 13.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Scranton unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Pennsylvania 3.4% 0.0 -1.0
Scranton 4.2% 0.0 -0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Scranton, Pennsylvania, National

Scranton, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Scranton, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Scranton peaked in April 2020 at 47,927. There are now 36,312 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Scranton employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Scranton 11,615 -52 -2,633

Number of Unemployed Persons

Scranton, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Scranton
Unemployment Rate
Scranton
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.4% 4.2% 11,615
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 4.2% 11,667
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 4.2% 11,619
August
2023
3.8% 3.5% 4.2% 11,842
July
2023
3.5% 3.5% 4.3% 11,886
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 4.5% 12,411
May
2023
3.7% 4.0% 4.6% 12,837
April
2023
3.4% 4.1% 4.7% 13,177
March
2023
3.5% 4.2% 4.9% 13,649
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 5.0% 14,039
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 5.1% 14,084

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.