Unemployment on rise throughout NNY, state

ALBANY — Unemployment in the region and throughout the state is on the rise.

New York's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate jumped to 7 percent in January, up from 6.6 percent in December, according to preliminary figures released Thursday by the state Labor Department. The rate was 4.7 percent in January 2008.

Nationally, the rate was 7.6 percent in January, up from 7.2 percent in December and 4.9 percent in January 2008.

Excluding New York City, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7 percent in January, up from 6.2 percent in December and from 4.7 percent in January 2008. January's rate was the highest since October 1992.

According to the seasonally unadjusted numbers for individual area counties, Lewis County had the highest January unemployment rate at 11.7 percent, up from 9.1 percent in December and from 7.8 percent in January 2008. St. Lawrence County posted an unemployment rate of 11.1 percent for January, up from 8.7 percent in December and from 7.6 percent in January 2008. Jefferson County's unemployment rate for January was 10.3 percent, up from 8.8 percent in December and from 7.5 percent in January 2008.

The state's educational and health services sector led yearly job gains with an increase of 32,600, while "leisure and hospitality" added 3,900 jobs, "other services" added 3,800 jobs and government added 1,500 jobs between January 2008 and last month.

The trade, transport and utilities sector led job declines with 48,100 during the same period, while manufacturing lost 34,900 jobs, financial activities lost 24,300 jobs, professional and business services lost 22,500 jobs and construction lost 20,400 jobs.

Complete state unemployment data for January are available online at: www.labor.state.

ny.us/workforceindustrydata/

PressReleases/pruistat.htm.