Delaware’s jobless rate again rose to 3.9 percent in December, in line with earlier estimates from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Employment growth was slightly below the national average as the number the persons seeking work increased.
The Delaware Department of Labor reported that the last time Delaware’s unemployment rate was 3.9 was April 2018.
Delaware’s jobless rate is in a three-way tie at 37th among the 50 states, with Michigan and North Carolina having the same figure.
Delaware’s unemployment rate has been rising since June when the rate fell to 3.2 percent. For all of 2019, Delaware’s unemployment rate averaged 3.5 percent, which is the lowest average annual unemployment rate since 2007.
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Total residential employment and unemployment both rose in December causing the labor force to increase by 900. Also, the labor force participation rate increased by one-tenth of a percent to 62.6 percent. The US labor force participation rate for December is 63.2 percent.
Since December 2018, Delaware’s total non-farm jobs have increased by 6,100, an increase of 1.3 percent.
Nationally, jobs during that period increased 1.4 percent.
Over-the-year, the Education & Health industry had the largest employment increase with 2,200 jobs, an increase of 2.7 percent. This was followed by Leisure & Hospitality with an increase of 1,800 jobs, up 3.7 percent; and Retail Trade increasing by 1,600 jobs over-the-year, up 3.0 percent.
Professional & Business Services posted employment losses with employment down 1,600 from a year ago.
Over-the-month, Delaware total non-farm seasonally adjusted jobs are up 700. Seasonally adjusted, Healthcare & Social Assistance is up 700 jobs over-the-month.
