WOZNIAK: LATEST JOB NUMBERS SHOW ECONOMIC UPSWING

          HARRISBURG, June 22, 2005 – State Sen. John N. Wozniak today said that the latest employment and job statistics indicate that Pennsylvania’s economy is on the upswing.

          "There is reason to be optimistic about job growth in West Central Pennsylvania,” Wozniak said. “Our region has generally lagged behind in economic development in the past, but these new employment statistics are a promising sign that the region is moving forward, and that Pennsylvania is ‘open for business.’" 

          Based on the statewide jobs report for May, Pennsylvania’s overall employment rate increased by 28,000 in May, to a record high of 6,045,000 workers.

          Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent, the lowest level since July 2001. The number of unemployed dropped by 6,000. Economists consider an unemployment rate of 5 percent to be ‘full employment.’

          “We’re seeing job growth in the manufacturing sector for the first time in 10 months,” Wozniak added. 

          The state gained 400 new manufacturing jobs from April to May. Additionally, Pennsylvania showed a net increase of 5,400 non-farm jobs, and the construction industry reached a record-high 256,300 jobs.

          Data sources for the report were: the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Current Employment Statistics Survey (CPS).

          “These numbers will continue to improve in the coming months,” Wozniak said. “But if we want long-term economic growth, if we want our workers to be ready for the careers of tomorrow, we’ve got to make the investment.”

          Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed $101 million in new state funding for the “Job Ready Pennsylvania” initiative, which would provide comprehensive workforce training and education programs for employees seeking to gain new technology and industry skills. The initial state investment would be expected to leverage $2 billion in private funding for the program.