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Ranks of jobless in Philadelphia region edge up in February

The number of unemployed people in the wider region - Philadelphia, surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and parts of Delaware and Maryland - grew by 800 in February to 150,200, while the unemployment rate stayed the same, at 4.8 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday.

The number of unemployed people in the wider region - Philadelphia, surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and parts of Delaware and Maryland - grew by 800 in February to 150,200, while the unemployment rate stayed the same, at 4.8 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Breaking it into smaller regions, the number of unemployed people rose by 600 to 30,900 in Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties, with the rate climbing from 4.7 percent to 4.8 percent. However, year to year, the number of unemployed people fell by 3,700 from 44,600 in February, 2015, when the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent.

In Philadelphia and Delaware counties, the number of unemployed rose slightly, up 100, to 57,500, while the unemployment rate declined slightly from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent. In February, 2015, 65,800 people were unemployed and the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent.

In Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties, the number of unemployed people grew by 800 to 43,100, while the unemployment rate also rose slightly from 4 percent to 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in February, 2015 when 47,200 were jobless. None of the statistics are seasonally adjusted.

jvonbergen@phillynews.com

215-854-2769

@JaneVonBergen

www.philly.com/jobbing