Unemployment rate in Harrisburg area drops below 5%

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area has been blessed with a low unemployment rate.  It's true that employment concerns still continue to linger in certain areas of the nation, but not in our area. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate for the Harrisburg region has dipped below 5%.   The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry posted the Harrisburg region numbers yesterday and lowered the rate to 4.9%.   Cumberland County had the lowest rate in the region…

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Pennsylvania workers compensation by the numbers

In terms of background, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers Compensation is under the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.  Each year, the Department of Labor and Industry releases its Annual Workers Compensation and Workplace Safety report.  The Department has released its 2013 Workers Compensation Annual Report. Injury and Petition Stats The total number of reportable work injuries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rose slightly from 2012.  In 2013, Pennsylvania employers reported 89,132 work injuries, compared to 85,117 in 2012.  …

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Pennsylvania Store Manager Trying To Stop A Theft Awarded Workers Compensation Benefits

A Pennsylvania gas station store manager who suffered a traumatic brain injury when attempting to foil a store theft, has been awarded workers compensation benefits in a decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.   The decision by the Court overturned the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Appeal Board's (WCAB) decision to deny the store manager benefits.  Here are the facts of what happened. Wetzel was working at a BP store near Pittsburgh when a theft bid occurred in November 2009. He chased…

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Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Falls for Ninth Straight Month

For the ninth consecutive month, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate has declined.  The current unemployment rate is 5.7% and has not been at that level since April of 2008.  In the month of April, Pennsylvania added 23,000 jobs statewide.   Here is a breakdown of where the increase in jobs came from.  One year ago, in April 2013, Pennsylvania unemployment rate was at 7.6%. Total nonfarm %jobs grew by 10,900 in April to reach 5,768,800, the highest level since October 2008. The…

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