Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.9 percent in December. The last time Delaware’s unemployment rate was 3.9 was April 2018. Delaware’s unemployment rate has been rising since June when the rate was 3.2 percent.
For all of 2019, Delaware’s unemployment rate averaged 3.5 percent, which is the lowest average annual unemployment rate since 2007.
Residential employment and unemployment both rose in December causing the labor force to increase by 900 and the labor force participation rate increased by one-tenth to 62.6 percent. The US labor force participation rate for December is 63.2 percent by comparison.
Since December 2018, Delaware’s total non-farm jobs have increased by a net gain of 6,100, a rise of 1.3 percent. Nationally, jobs during that period increased 1.4 percent. Over-the-year, the Education & Health industry had the largest employment increase with 2,200 jobs, an increase of 2.7 percent. This was followed by Leisure & Hospitality with an increase of 1,800 jobs, up 3.7 percent; and Retail Trade increasing by 1,600 jobs over-the-year, up 3.0 percent.
Professional & Business Services had employment losses with employment down 1,600 from a year ago. Over-the-month, Delaware total non-farm seasonally adjusted jobs are up 700. Seasonally adjusted, Healthcare & Social Assistance is up 700 jobs over-the-month.
The full report can be viewed here.