For the long term unemployed in the Pittsburgh Metro area the June unemployment report is bittersweet. For our area, the unemployment rate dropped from 8.6% in May to 8.3%, while adding 7,700 jobs. The good news is this represents almost 4,000 more jobs than one year ago.
While good news for area economists, who see the Pittsburgh Metro getting better through the rest of the year, it is little help to the more than 100,000 residents who couldn't find work. Our sense here at EmploymentGuide.com is that employers are beginning to increase their recruitment activities.
While summer is normally a slow recruitment period in good times, this summer has seen a steadily (albeit slowly) increasing number of job postings as well as inquiries toward near term recruitment plans. Our job fair held recently at Mellon Arena attracted 40 local employers which was the most in two years.
For more details on the job numbers go to the Post Gazette and the Tribune-Review.