Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June remained unchanged from a month earlier at 4.2%, above the national figure, the Delaware Department of Labor reported.
On the plus side, job growth in the First State outpaced the national averag.
The total of unemployed Delawareans was 20,800 in June, compared to 21,600 in June 2022.
The nation’s unemployment rate was 3.6% in June 2023, down from 3.7% in May 2023. In June 2022, the US unemployment rate was 3.6%, while Delaware’s rate was 4.3%.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in June was 487,300, up from 486,200 in May 2023. Since June 2022, Delaware’s total nonfarm jobs have increased by 16,900, an increase of 3.6 %. Nationally, jobs during that period increased 2.4%.
The leisure and hospitality industry category led the increase in jobs, which grew by 4,600 or 8.4 percent over-the year, largely driven by the growth in accommodation and food service sector jobs.
The trade, transportation, utilities, and professional and business services sectors also had over-the-year increases of 2,500 and 2,300 jobs, respectively.
Two industries saw job declines compared with a year ago, the other services and information sectors were declined by 300 and 200 jobs, respectively.
Both sectors may have been affected by a labor shortage in some sectors. The leisure and hospitality sectors, despite recent growth, are also struggling to retain and hire workers.
The local government sector had the largest over-the-month change in jobs, increasing by 1,500.
