LEWISTOWN - After three months of decline, unemployment in the Juniata Valley has begun to increase again.
In April, Juniata, Huntingdon, Snyder and Centre counties all experienced an increase in the number of people who are unemployed, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Mifflin County's unemployment rate remained steady for the third straight month at 7.6 percent.
In Juniata County, unemployment increased from 6.4 percent in March to 6.8 percent in April.
Huntingdon County saw a rise of more than 0.5 percent, from 8.6 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April. In Snyder County, unemployment increased by 0.3 percent to 7.7. percent, and Centre County's rate rose from 5.5 percent to 5.6 percent.
Centre County has the second lowest unemployment rate in the state, with Montour County being the lowest at 5.3 percent. The highest is in Cameron County at 11.7 percent.
The increase locally did not mirror the commonwealth's unemployment rates as a whole. Pennsylvania experienced a decrease, from 7.5 percent in March to 7.4 percent in April. Compared to last year, unemployment is down 0.5 percent.
Pennsylvania lost 4,100 goods-producing jobs in April due to a drop in construction of 5,400, according to a press release from the department.
Services-producing jobs increased by 3,500; and trade, transportation and utilities added 4,400 jobs, the release states. The month also brought a few more leisure and hospitality jobs.
In total, Pennsylvania's job count is up 38,600, or 0.7 percent, this year.
The U.S. has an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
