Delaware June unemployment rises slightly

Delaware’s unemployment rate last month shows a continuing slow rise, matching the national unemployment rate’s uptick. | PHOTO COURTESY OF ADOBE STOCK

DOVER — Delaware’s unemployment rate increased marginally last month, but state officials report that the wages have slightly grown as the year has passed.

The Delaware Department of Labor reports that June saw the loss of 100 jobs, according to its monthly report issued on July 19. Delaware’s total labor force stands at 505,500 people.

Concurrently, Delaware private companies have grown hourly wages by 5.7%, or by $1.71 per hour compared to June 2023. That means the average weekly earnings for employees who work for private companies is at $1,023.04.

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The First State’s unemployment rate now sits at 4% after rising 10 basis points from the previous month, much like what the state saw in May. At the same time, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 4.1% which was a bump of 10 basis points from May 2024.

There were 20,200 unemployed Delawareans in June 2024, rising by 300 people between June and May.

The labor force captures not only workers and those receiving unemployment benefits, but also those in search of work who aren’t receiving assistance. As workers stop seeking employment, for a variety of reasons ranging from retirement to child care needs, they are no longer counted as being unemployed in the state. 

The Delaware Department of Labor’s report is taken monthly during the calendar week that contains the 12th day. 

There were 20,200 unemployed Delawareans in June 2024, rising by 300 people between June and May. In comparison, the U.S. economy added another 206,000 jobs in the past month, continuing the streak set earlier this year.

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Looking at the national landscape, Delaware has seen little movement among the rankings for unemployment rate. The First State now sits tied for 37th place with Louisiana and Texas. Neighboring states Pennsylvania  and Maryland outperformed Delaware last month, with Pennsylvania tied for 27th with an unemployment rate of 3.4% and Maryland tied for ninth place with an unemployment rate of 2.8%. New Jersey sits close to the bottom of the rankings at 48th place with an unemployment report of 4.6%.

South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate of 2% and Washington D.C. clocks in the highest unemployment rate at 5.4%.

Delaware’s three counties saw differing rates of unemployment in April with New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties reporting rates of 4.6%, 5.5% and 4.0%, respectively. However, those statistics are not seasonally adjusted.

Wilmington and Dover, the state’s most populous cities, have seen a greater impact in job losses. Wilmington reports 7.1% of workers are unemployed, a jump from the 5.7% in May. Meanwhile Dover continues to rise even higher than the previous month, now reporting at 7.5% compared to its 5% in May.

Leading job gains last month were the professional and business services, which added 900 jobs. The government saw 200 jobs, while construction also added 100 jobs. Financial services lost 600 jobs, while trades shed 300 jobs while hospitality also lost 100 jobs.

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