The jobless rate in Pennsylvania held steady last month.   Even as the nation’s unemployment rate rose a tenth to 8.2% in May, the Commonwealth’s jobless rate held at 7.4%, unchanged from April.

The state Department of Labor and Industry says it  marks the 49th consecutive month that the state’s rate has remained below the national average. The jobless rate in Pennsylvania last month was 6-tenths of a point lower than May of last year.

Resident employment was up 23 thousand for the month. Seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were down 9,900 in May.

Leisure and Hospitality saw the biggest decline. Professional and business services jobs posted the largest increase.  The jobless rate was 6-tenths of a point lower than May of last year.