Rochester Business Journal

Despite an increase in the number of jobs in the Rochester metro area in June, the unemployment rate showed no improvement, the State Department of Labor reported Tuesday.

The jobless rate was 8.4 percent last month, up from 8 percent in May and 7.7 percent a year ago. The metro area includes Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties.

Data in the report are not seasonally adjusted. The most valid comparison with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, the Labor Department noted.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent, compared with 8.6 percent in May and 8.1 percent a year ago. Some 883,100 people were unemployed in New York State in June, up from 823,400 in May and 775,600 in June 2011.

The number of unemployed in Rochester in June was 45,100, down from 42,500 in May, but up from 40,300 a year ago. Some 491,800 people were employed here last month, compared with 487,000 in May and 486,600 in June 2011.

Last week the Department of Labor reported an increase in the number of private-sector and non-farm jobs in Rochester in June. The area ranked sixth among upstate regions in terms of private-sector job growth, on a percentage basis.

Area unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted were:

• Monroe County—8.4 percent, up from 7.9 percent in May and 7.7 percent a year ago;
• Genesee County—7.6 percent, compared with 7.5 percent in May and 7 percent in June 2011;
• Livingston County—8.3 percent, unchanged from May, but up from 7.4 percent a year ago;
• Ontario County—7.6 percent in June, compared with 7.5 percent in May and 7 percent a year ago;
• Orleans County—10.6 percent, up from 9.5 percent in May and 9 percent in June 2011; and
• Wayne County—8.8 percent, compared with 8.7 percent in May and 8 percent a year ago.

The jobless rate in Buffalo was 8.8 percent last month, up from 8.4 percent in May and 7.9 percent a year ago. The Syracuse area unemployment rate was 9 percent in June, compared with 8.5 percent in May and 8.2 percent a year ago.

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