Potter County Jobless Rate Drops To Single Digits

Potter County’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in December — just enough to return to single digits for the first time since before the national recession. The figure was 9.9 percent in December, down from November’s 10.4 percent and significantly lower than the 11.7 percent of December 2010. There were many factors, including job growth at customer contact centers and other larger employers, employment in the national gas industry, and growth in retail jobs. Pennsylvania’s statewide rate in December was 8.5 percent. The national figure was 9.4 percent.

The State Department of Labor and Industry advises that wide fluctuations can take place in the county’s jobless rate, due to the relatively small labor force and other factors, such as migration. The count does not include furloughed employees who no longer receive unemployment compensation. The agency reported that approximately 120 Potter County residents exhausted their UC benefits in 2010 and about 20 more will join their ranks monthly from January through April.