The unemployment rate for the York-Hanover area was unchanged in September, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, according to a state analyst.

In fact, recent statistics show some positives for the region, said William Sholly, an analyst for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

The state department on Wednesday announced the rate was unchanged since August at 7.9 percent.

Though that rate is up one-tenth of a point since September 2011, state statistics show both the labor force and number of employed has grown in the York-Hanover area, Sholly said.

In September 2011, the labor force was 225,200 people strong. Last month, it had grown to 229,800 people looking for work-an increase of 4,600 during the year.

The number of those employed has also grown, he said.

Last month, 211,700 York-Hanover residents were employed. That's an increase of 4,100 from the 207,600 residents who were employed in September 2011.

'A positive': "We'd like to see the unemployment rate go down ... it's not settled to where we'd like to see it. But the labor force is growing, and that's a positive thing. The numbers show more people found work this year than they did last year," Sholly said.

Some of that work was found in the local manufacturing industry, which grew by 400 jobs since September 2011, according to state figures.

Last month, local residents found additional work when the York Fair added 100 leisure and hospitality jobs in the region, and Peach Bottom's hiring of temporary workers added to the mining, logging and construction industry growing by 700 jobs, he said.

September's unemployment rate for the area was among the lowest in the state. It was also lower than the state average and higher than the national average.

Pennsylvania's rate in September increased one-tenth to 8.2 percent, while the nation's rate fell three-tenths to 7.8 percent..

- Candy Woodall can also be reached at cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.