CNY region unemployment rates decline in April compared to a year

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

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area fell to 4.7 percent in April from 5.5 percent a year prior.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 5.1 percent in April, down from 5.9 percent in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area fell to 6.5 percent last month from 7.3 percent in April 2015.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region dipped to 5.3 percent in April from 6 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

The jobless rate in the Ithaca region was 3.6 percent last month, down from 3.8 percent in April 2015.

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 state Labor Department said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com