Central New York jobless rates fall in March

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica–Rome, Ithaca, and Watertown–Fort Drum metro areas fell in March, compared to a year ago, according to the latest New York State Department of Labor data released Tuesday.

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 5.7 percent in March, down from the 6.8 percent figure posted in March 2014.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 6.1 percent in March, down from 7.2 percent in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area was 8.1 percent in March, lower than the 9.5 percent figure posted in March 2014.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region slipped to 6.3 percent in March from 7.4 percent a year prior.

And, the jobless rate in the Ithaca area came in at 3.8 percent in March, down from 4.4 percent in March 2014, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

Most areas of Central New York added jobs between March 2014 and this past March, according a state Labor Department news release distributed last Thursday, April 16.

The Ithaca region was the lone exception, having lost a net 1,300 jobs, a decline of 1.8 percent.

The local-unemployment data isn’t seasonally adjusted, meaning the figures don’t reflect seasonal influences such as holiday hires.

The unemployment rates are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the New York Labor Department said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

CNY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

Source: New York State Department of Labor