The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its monthly employment situation report for August, revealing that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has remained at 5.4% for the fourth consecutive month.

Good News

The employment situation shows that public sector jobs rose 5,400 in August, with the biggest increases being seen in jobs in Government and Education & Health services.

Service providing industries have shown a net gain of 7.4% over the past year, with jobs in Information, Education & Health Services gaining the most ground.

Total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania have a 1.0% net growth since August 2014.

Bad News

Jobs in goods producing industries have a net loss of -3.4%, with the biggest decline in mining and logging. Both resident and nonresident employment rates were down moderately in August. The civilian force decreased by 12,000 to 6,415,000.

Leisure & hospitality and other services showed the biggest single-month declines.

Although it is not getting any higher, the unemployment rate is at a standstill while the U.S. rate is steadily declining, currently at 5.1%.