Delaware’s jobless stood at 4.3 percent in July, up slightly from 4.2 percent.
The nation’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, unchanged from June. In July of last year, the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, with Delaware at 4.9 percent.
The rates included seasonal adjustments, the Delaware Department of Labor reported.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures showed that the state’s unemployment matched the figure for Maryland, but was well below neighboring New Jersey, at 5.3 percent and Pennsylvania, 5.6 percent. South Dakota had the nation’s lowest rate at 2.8 percent with oil-rich Alaska having the highest jobless figure at 6.7 percent.
In July seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Delaware was 460,300 down from 461,700 in June.
During the past year, Delaware’s total nonfarm jobs have increased by a 11,500, or 2.5 percent. The national rate was 1.7 percent.
Despite the uptick in the unemployment rate, job growth has been running at near-record levels.
Based on a survey used in the national unemployment rate, 18,000 more residents are employed than during the same period in July 2015.
At the same time, the number of part-time workers (34 or fewer hours per week) fell by 8,300 to 89,300, meaning that 26,300 more people are working full time when compared to July 2015.
The number of people working part- me who wanted to work full- time also fell, from 18,700 a year ago to 16,100.
Those who wanted to work but aren’t looking for employment fell, from 14,900 to 12,900.
Discouraged workers – those who want work, but not actively searching totaled 1,400, job prospects, down from 2,100 a year ago.
Labor market officials have previously cautioned that survey estimates are subject to adjustment when more accurate payroll figures are calculated later in the year.
That could mean less robust job growth once the final numbers are calculated.
Last year, labor market figures showed a decline in retail employment at a time when stores were opening. Job figures were later adjusted upward in that category. In July, retail employment was unchanged from a year ago.
