Manufacturing is not leading Franklin County’s job recovery
(Harrisburg) — Manufacturing has not led the charge in lowering Franklin County’s unemployment rate during the past year.
The county’s joblessness went from 5.4 percent in June 2014 to 4.8 percent this June, according to the latest data from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Manufacturing employment increased modestly by just 100 jobs.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for Franklin County was unchanged from May to June.
Manufacturing grew an unadjusted 200 jobs during the month to 12,200, according to the report released Tuesday. Other statistics however temper the one-month jump:
• Major road construction equipment manufacturers, the county’s manufacturing base, are looking at a rough road later this year, according to financial outlooks. Low gas prices have discouraged drilling for more oil and developing alternative energy projects. Congress has yet to adopt a long-term highway bill.
• Manitowoc laid off about 130 in July at the local Grove crane factory. The numbers are not included in the joblessness report for June.
Warehousing and transportation have led the job recovery with 600 jobs in the past year. Construction employment has fallen to 1,900 jobs, down from 2,100 a year earlier. Contractors did not add employees from May to June.
Other sectors have grown faster than manufacturing in the past year. Professional and business services grew by 300. Retailers added 300 jobs. Restaurants and motels employ 200 more people than they did a year ago.
The largest sector of the county’s economy is warehousing, transportation, utilities and wholesale/retail with 15,000 jobs. Manufacturing is the second largest with 12,200. Health and education services employ 9,900.
Franklin County tied York County for the 18th lowest unemployment rate in June among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Cumberland County (4 percent) was third and Adams (4.2 percent) was fifth. Chester County had the lowest rate (3.6 percent).
Jim Hook can be reached at 717-262-4759.
This article comes to us through a partnership between Public Opinion Online and WITF.
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