(File Photo)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s payrolls grew in January, the unemployment rate crept down and the labor force expanded after more than a year of contraction. That’s according to figures released Friday. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point to 5.4%. The national rate was 4%. In a survey of households, the labor force grew for just the second month since September 2020. The state labor force hit a record high just before the COVID-19 pandemic and remains below 2011 levels. In a separate survey of employers, non-farm payrolls grew to their highest point since before the pandemic. Pennsylvania has regained almost 80% of the jobs lost in the pandemic.