Latest Pennsylvania Job Numbers (March 2009)

According to the State Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania lost 30,500 jobs in March alone.

The data indicate that since the recession began - officially in December of 2007 - Pennsylvania has fared better than most states, but so far this year, Pennsylvania ranks among the highest states (7th, to be precise) in the number of jobs lost.  This would seem to indicate that Pennsylvania is continuing its historic pattern of feeling the effects of recession later than other states (historically the state as also recovered later), given the dynamics of the state economy.

The numbers also indicate that Pennsylvania has now lost jobs under Governor Rendell (Dec. 2002 to March 2009, not seasonally adjusted), ranking Pennsylvania 34th in job growth during that time - 31 states actually had job growth.