by justin strawser
The first 2012 unemployment rate for Northumberland County is more than half a percentage point lower than the last number for 2011, according to the latest figures from the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).
DLI reported last week that the January unemployment rate was 8.3 percent compared to December 2010's updated rate of 8.9 percent.
The county unemployment rate is the same as seasonably adjusted national level of 8.3 percent and above the state level of 7.6 percent.
The most recent Northumberland County rate is also the same as it was a year ago, but much lower than when it was at 10.2 percent in January 2010.
Jobless rates in neighboring counties are Montour, 5.6 percent; Lycoming, 6.7 percent; Union, 6.9 percent; Dauphin, 7.2 percent; Juniata. 7.3 percent; Columbia, 7.6 percent; Perry, 7.7 percent; Snyder, 7.9 percent; and Schuykill, 9 percent.
Of those nine counties, Union had the largest change, decreasing .7 percent.
Centre County, at 5.2 percent, has the lowest jobless rate in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia County, at 10.7 percent, has the highest.
There are only two counties in the state at or above a rate of 10 percent.
Northumberland County unemployment rates:
Dec. '08: 8.8
2009
Jan.: 8.9
Feb.: 9.5
March: 9.7
April: 9.5
May: 9.9
June: 10.1
July: 10
Aug.: 10.1
Sept.: 10.4
Oct.: 10.6
Nov.: 10
Dec.: 10.4
2010
Jan.: 10.2
Feb.: 10.2
March: 9.9
April: 9.6
May: 10.1
June: 10.1
July: 10.2
Aug.: 10.1
Sept.: 9.7
Oct.: 9.9
Nov.: 9.8
Dec.: 9.5
2011
Jan.: 8.3
Feb.: 8.4
March: 8
April: 8.2
May: 8.5
June: 8.8
July: 8.8
Aug.: 9.2
Sept.: 9
Oct.: 8.6
Nov. 8.8
Dec. 8.9
2012
Jan.: 8.3