Delaware’s unemployment rate continued a slow decline in May, according to the Delaware Department of Labor. The state’s jobless rate remains well below the national figure, but job growth remains much weaker than in the nation as a whole.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May 2012 was 6.8 percent, down from a revised 6.9 percent in April The total number of unemployed was 30,100 in May, compared to 31,900 in May 2011. The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in May 2012, up from 8.1 percent in April 2012. In May 2011, the U.S. unemployment rate was 9 percent..
In May, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was 417,200, down from 419,500 in April 2012. The decrease of 2,300 jobs was mainly due to decreases in Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality.
State labor market officials have previously cautioned that month-to-month job figures are subject to revision.
Since May 2011, Delaware’s total nonfarm jobs have increased by a net gain of 200, or a miniscule 0.05 percent. Nationally, jobs during that period increased 1.4 percent.
Over the past twelve months, the job gains in Delaware were in Education and Health at + 2,700, and Financial Activities at +1,000. The largest over -the-year job losses were in Construction at -1,600, and Professional and Business Services at -1,300.
See link below for the full report in a PDF file.
