Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July 2018 was 3.9 percent, unchanged from June, the Delaware Department of Labor reported.
The July jobless figure matched the national rate, which dropped a tenth of a percent from June.
An earlier estimate from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia indicated the Delaware jobless rate could drop to 3.8 percent.
The number of jobless Delawareans totaled 18,900 in July, compared to 22,000 in July 2017.
In July 2017 the US unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, while Delaware’s rate was 4.6 percent.
In July seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment was 462,000, up from 460,100 in June.
Since July 2017, Delaware’s total nonfarm jobs have increased by a net gain of 9,200, an increase of 2 percent. Nationally, jobs during that period increased 1.6 percent.
The department cautioned that the gain was unadjusted for seasonal factors such as hiring patterns in the summer or during the winter holidays.
“Using seasonally adjusted data, Delaware has gained 6,500 jobs since last July. The unadjusted gain is 9,200. Though we believe the former is closer to the actual truth, based on actual payroll reports through March, we will continue to report the unadjusted 12-month change for consistency,” the Labor Department reported.
Last year, job growth figures in Delaware came in on the weak side. However, when payroll data, rather than estimates, were reported to the state, the job total was revised upward.
Employers in Delaware are reporting increasing difficulty in finding workers as the jobless rate drops. A recent report on small business friendliness downgraded the state’s ranking from second to 27, due in part to job-related issues, such as finding staff and training and networking opportunities. (See story below).
Delaware slips from second to 27th in Thumbtack small business survey
