Pennsylvania Suffers Worst Job Loss in 20 Years

Unemployment in Pennsylvania rose by half a point to 6.7% in December, and the state saw its steepest loss of jobs last year since 1991, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry.

In 2008, Pennsylvania lost 76,200 jobs. The state average was below the national unemployment average for December, which was 7.2%.

Jobs in the education and health services sector gained 1,500 jobs last month.

Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force, which is the number of people working or looking for work, rose to 6.4 million in December, up 23,000 from November.