The unemployment rate for Northumberland County dropped more than one percent between January and February, according to the latest figures from the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).
DLI reported Tuesday that the February unemployment rate was 8.8 percent, down 1.3 percent from January's rate of 10.1 percent, which was the highest rate since July 2010.
The county unemployment rate is above both the seasonably adjusted rates of 7.7 percent nationally and 8.1 percent statewide.
The most recent Northumberland County rate is higher than it was a year ago at 8.3 percent and two years ago at 8.4 percent, but lower than three years ago at 10.2 percent and four years ago at 9.5 percent.
Jobless rates in neighboring counties are Montour, 5.7 percent; Juniata, 7.4 percent; Columbia, 7.5 percent; Dauphin, 7.5 percent; Union, 7.6 percent; Perry, 7.7 percent; Snyder, 7.7 percent; Lycoming, 8.3 percent, and Schuylkill, 9.1 percent.
Unemployment rates in most of the neighboring counties decreased, and the largest changes were in Columbia and Dauphin counties with .8 percent drops.
Centre County, at 5.7 percent, has the lowest jobless rate in Pennsylvania. Cameron County, at 11.3 percent, has the highest.
There are only five counties in the state at or above a rate of 10 percent.