The gap between the unemployment rate in Delaware and the national figure widened in November, the Delaware Department of Labor reported.
Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November 2019 was 3.8 percent, up from 3.7 percent in October 2019. There were 18,700 unemployed Delawareans in November compared to 17,200 in November.
Delaware’s 3.8 percent rate ranked 33rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois and North Carolina also posted a 3.8 percent rate. Alaska had the highest rate at 6.1 percent, with Vermont the lowest at 2.3 percent.
The US unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November. That’s down from 3.6 percent in October. In October 2018 the US unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, while Delaware’s rate was 3.5 percent.
Job growth in Delaware was equal to the national rate of 1.5 percent during a one year period that ended in November.
During the year the leisure & hospitality industry had the largest employment increase with 2,300 jobs, an increase of 4.7 percent. This was followed by education & health with an increase of 1,900 jobs, up 2.3 percent; and government increasing by 1,600 jobs also up 2.3 percent.
Job growth in education & health was driven by increases in health care & social assistance, while gains in government were driven mainly by increases in local government educational services. With seasonal adjustments, the number of Delaware non-farm jobs increased by 1,200 in November from October. The retail trade industry led all industries with a seasonally adjusted over-the-month gain of 900 of jobs.
Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is higher than the US rate for the second consecutive month after running below the national figure for a number of months.
Residential employment and unemployment both rose in November, seasonally adjusted, causing the labor force to increase by 1,200 and the labor force participation rate to increase by one-tenth to 62.5 percent.
Employment figures will be subject to adjustments in the early months of the following year. This is due to the Labor Department getting payroll figures rather than using estimates.
