LEWISTOWN -Despite the approaching holiday seasons, some local areas saw an increase in unemployment rates this November.
In Mifflin County, the number of jobless residents grew 0.3 percent to 8.3 percent in November, according to data released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Similarly, the Snyder County area increased from 7.4 percent in October to 7.6 percent in November.
Unemployment in Juniata County remained static at 7.1 percent across the two months, as did the rate in Centre County at 5.3 percent - the lowest in the state.
Huntingdon County was the only area in the Juniata Valley to experience a drop, moving from 9.4 percent in October to 9.2 percent in November.
In the commonwealth as a whole, unemployment numbers dropped from 8.1 percent in October to 7.9 percent in November.
The number of people working or looking for work decreased by about 2,000 in November, but the number of unemployed residents fell by 14,000, according to a release from the department.
For the month, the largest number of job losses in Pennsylvania came from construction and manufacturing industries, with a drop of about 1,600, the release states. However, there were 4,200 jobs added in trade, transportation and utilities, as well as education and health care, up 2,500. Mining and logging jobs also increased by 400, according to the release.
The U.S. unemployment rate for November was 8.3 percent.
