Local workforce trend: Unemployment rates inch upward, mirroring state, national stats

Mike Lewis, The Herald-Mail
·4 min read

Unemployment rates rose throughout most of the Tri-State region, area states and the nation last month.

Washington County's jobless rate hit 4.4% in August, up from 4.2% in July. In Hagerstown, the August rate reached 5.2%, up from 4.7% in July.

Unemployment rates also were higher in Franklin County, Pa., and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. In the region, only Fulton County, Pa., reported a decrease.

All of the region's unemployment rates remain below figures from August 2021.

Downtown building shuttered: Residents, restaurant displaced after city condemns building; repairs planned

The Maryland Department of Labor released its monthly county-level unemployment report Wednesday.

Figures for Pennsylvania were released Tuesday. The West Virginia statistics were released Sept. 21.

The reports show figures for August and, in some cases, revised numbers for July.

Jobless rate rises in Washington County

The county's unemployment rate of 4.4% in August compares to 5.7% in August 2021 and 11.3% in April 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of employed people fell from 70,147 in July to 70,073 in August. That number was 67,816 in August 2021.

The number of people without work rose from 3,078 in July to 3,233 in August. It was 4,120 in August 2021.

And the labor force total rose from 73,225 to 73,306. The total was 71,936 in August 2021.

The labor force includes those who have jobs plus those who are unemployed and seeking work.

Basically, the jobless rate is the number of residents without jobs and looking for work divided by the total number in the labor force.

Unemployment rates for Hagerstown

The city's unemployment statistics followed a similar trend.

The jobless rate rose from 4.7% in July to 5.2% in August. The rate was 7.2% in August 2021 and 14.1% in April 2020, at the start of the pandemic.

The number of employed people fell from 17,441 to 17,422. That figure was 16,861 in August 2021.

The number of people without work rose from 857 to 956. The number was 1,316 in August 2021.

And the labor force total rose from from 18,298 to 18,378. It was 18,177 in August 2021.

The county and city numbers are not adjusted for seasonal factors.

Jobless rates up throughout Maryland

Maryland's unemployment rate, not adjusted for seasonal factors, rose from 4.2% in July to 4.4% in August. It was 6.2% in August 2021.

Jobless rates rose from July to August in all of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions.

Comings and goings: Hagerstown HomeGoods is opening, Leiters' catering moves downtown

'I remember everything about that day': Region shaken 30 years ago after military plane crashed, killing all six crew members

Somerset County had the highest rate at 6.4%. Howard County recorded the lowest rates at 3.5%.

In Western Maryland, the July rate was 3.9% in Frederick County, 5.7% in Allegany County and 4.5% in Garrett County.

The United States' jobless rate rose from 3.5% to 3.7%. It was 5.2% in August 2021

In Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate, not adjusted for seasonal factors, was 4.8%. The rate was 4.7% in July.

Franklin County’s rate rose from 3.8% in July to 3.9% in August.

Fulton County's rate fell from 4.3% to 4.2%. It was the only county in the Tri-State to report a lower rate.

In West Virginia, the state's rate, not adjusted for seasonal factors, increased from 4.2% to 4.3%.

Berkeley County’s rate rose from 3.1% to 3.3%. Jefferson County's figure increased from 2.7% to 2.8%, and Morgan County's rate rose from 2.9% to 3%.

Area jobless rates

The July unemployment rates for area counties:

  • Washington County: 4.4%, up from 4.2% in July

  • Franklin County, Pa.: 3.9%, up from 3.8% in July

  • Fulton County, Pa.: 4.2%, down from 4.3% in July

  • Berkeley County, W.Va.: 3.3%, up from 3.1% in July

  • Jefferson County, W.Va.: 2.8%, up from 2.7% in July

  • Morgan County, W.Va.: 3%, up from 2.9% in July

— Source: State government reports

Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter: @MiLewis.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Unemployment rates rise in Hagerstown, Washington County Maryland