Furloughed federal workers may affect Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate.
The state jobless rate currently stands at 4.2 percent, but that number could change the longer the partial federal shutdown continues.
Deputy PA Labor and Industry Secretary Bill Trusky says between Dec. 22 and Jan. 9, more than 2,300 federal employees applied for benefits, compared to the same period a year ago when that number was only 150.
Trusky says those required to show up for work even though they’re not getting paid are not eligible for unemployment benefits.
The partial shutdown affects some 12,000 federal workers in Pennsylvania.