by justin strawser
The unemployment rate in Northumberland County increased slightly for the second straight month in May, according to information released by the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) last week.
The rate rose to 8.5, up from 8.2 percent in April and 8.0 percent in March. The new rates is considerably lower, however, than the 10.1 percent recorded last May.
The rate crested during the recession at 10.6 percent in October 2009.
Northumberland County's number remains between the seasonably adjusted national and state levels of 9.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
Jobless rates in neighboring counties are Montour, 6 percent; Juniata, 6.7 percent; Dauphin, 7.2 percent; Columbia, 7.5 percent; Lycoming, 7.5 percent; Perry, 7.5 percent; Schuylkill, 9 percent; Snyder, 7.6 percent, and Union, 7.8 percent.
Of those nine counties, only Lycoming and Perry remained the same; the others increased. Columbia had the largest jump at .5 percent.
Centre County, at 5.5 percent, has the lowest jobless rate in Pennsylvania. Cameron County, at 10.4 percent, has the highest.
Northumberland County unemployment rates:
2009
January: 8.9
February: 9.5
March: 9.7
April: 9.5
May: 9.9
June: 10.1
July: 10
August: 10.1
September: 10.4
October: 10.6
November: 10
December: 10.4
2010
January: 10.2
February: 10.2
March: 9.9
April: 9.6
May: 10.1
June: 10.1
July: 10.2
August: 10.1
September: 9.7
October: 9.9
November: 9.8
December: 9.5
2011
January: 8.3
February: 8.4
March: 8
April: 8.2
May: 8.5