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New faces heading to state boys basketball playoffs

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I-81 north is closed in Hazelton

<p>HARRISBURG &#8212; The Pennsylvania Department of Labor &amp; Industry Friday released its employment situation report for January 2017 &#8212; the state&#8217;s unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point from December to 5.2 percent.</p><p>The commonwealth&#8217;s rate remained above that of the United States, which increased one-tenth of a percentage point in January to 4.8 percent. Over the year, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate declined by one-tenth of a percentage point.</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s civilian labor force was down 14,000 over the month to 6,440,000. Resident employment increased by 4,000 while the unemployment count declined by 19,000. January was the fifth consecutive month that posted both an increase in employment and a decrease in unemployment.</p><p>Total non-farm jobs were up 15,300 to a record high of 5,931,600 in January. Seven of the eleven super-sectors added jobs from December. The largest gain was in construction (plus-5,900), while the largest drop was in manufacturing (minus-2,700). Three super-sectors &#8212; professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality &#8212; reached record high job levels in January.</p><p>Over the year, total non-farm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 70,300 (plus-1.2 percent). Seven super-sectors added jobs from last January. The largest increase over the past twelve months was in education &amp; health services (plus-39,500), while the largest decline was in manufacturing (minus-7,500).</p><p><strong>Note:</strong> The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.</p><style>
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PA unemployment rate declines to 5.2 percent in January