12/04/08 — Crawford County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is on a bit of a rollercoaster ride as the rate worsened slightly to 6 percent for October.
The county’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up from 5.8 percent in September, but down from 6.1 percent in August, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The number of manufacturing jobs in the county fell slightly in October to 7,800, down from 7,900 in September.
Lauren Nimal, a state labor market analyst, said it was a statistical bump due to rounding.
Tim Mullen, vice president of Starn Tool & Manufacturing of Meadville, said employment has been steady at his shop the past few months.
“We’ve been holding our own,” Mullen said of employment levels at the 55-person shop. Starn does work for the consumer products, medical, aerospace and military industries. “We’re holding steady now. We diversified several years ago.”
About 15 to 20 years ago, much of Starn’s work was tied to the automotive industry.
Mullen sees the potential for an economic upturn in mid-2009.
“I think we’ll see another technology boom,” he said. “Usually, there’s an advance in technology after an economic downturn. When something bad happens, something good usually follows it.”
Crawford County has a heavier reliance on manufacturing than other parts of Pennsylvania and the country. More than 20 percent of the jobs in the county are related to manufacturing, compared to about 12 percent for the state and 11 percent nationally.
While manufacturing held fairly steady in October, the county’s labor force and total numbers of employed did contract during the month.
The county’s seasonally adjusted total labor force fell by 400 in October to 44,300, with 41,600 employed and 2,700 unemployed. In September, the total labor force was 44,700, with 42,100 employed and 2,600 unemployed.
“This time of year, a slight dip in the labor force is not unusual,” said Nimal. “It could be a number factors including kids going back to school. Seasonal jobs ended as well.”
Crawford County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.0 percent for October is better than the national rate of 6.5 percent, but not as good as Pennsylvania’s rate of 5.8 percent.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for other counties in northwestern Pennsylvania were mixed. Four had increases, two showed decreases and one was unchanged.
The rates, listed October, then September were: Erie, 5.9, 5.9; Forest, 8.3, 8.4; Lawrence, 6.1 6.3; McKean, 6.8, 6.6; Mercer, 7.4, 7.1; Venango, 6.1, 5.9; and Warren, 5.6, 5.3.
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