Pa. jobless rate hits 16-year high

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose last month to 7.8 percent of the workforce, the highest since September 1992, as the job market nationwide continued to be battered by the recession.

The March jobless rate, released yesterday by the state Department of Labor and Industry, was up 0.3 of a percentage point from February.

Even so, it was below the national rate of 8.5 percent and New Jersey's rate of 8.3 percent.

Moreover, seven states now have unemployment rates of 10 percent or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said yesterday in a separate report. California lost 62,100 jobs during March, the biggest decline of any state.

A small bright spot for Pennsylvania was a revision in the state's job-loss figure for February, which was lowered by nearly 8,000, to a decline of 33,300 jobs from January.

"The February revision could be an indicator that economic recovery is coming," Gov. Rendell said. "But we know there may be tough times ahead."

To help state residents cope with the economic crisis, Rendell said, the state offers assistance with job searches, health-insurance choices, financial planning, and stress relief through "Here to Help Day" events. Information about these events is available at www.HeretoHelp.pa.gov.

Events so far have been held in 23 counties.

In March, employment in Pennsylvania fell 41,000, to 5,932,000. Unemployment rose 13,000, to 499,000.

Since the recession started in December 2007, the state's jobless rate has climbed from 4.4 percent, while the rate in New Jersey has nearly doubled from 4.2 percent.

Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, Indiana's unemployment rate jumped to 10 percent in March as it became the latest state to reach that level or more. Michigan, at 12.6 percent, remained highest, followed by Oregon (12.1 percent) and California (11.2 percent).

"There is a bad-news story in just about every part of the country right now," said Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wachovia Corp. in Charlotte, N.C.