CNY region unemployment rates fall in March

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Binghamton, Watertown–Fort Drum, and Ithaca regions declined in March compared to a year ago.

The figures are part of the latest New York State Department of Labor data released Tuesday.

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 4.9 percent in March, down from 5.2 percent in March 2016.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 5.2 percent in March, compared to 5.5 percent in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area was 7.1 percent in March, falling from the 7.5 percent figure in March 2016.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region also fell to 5.4 percent in March from 5.8 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

The jobless rate in the Ithaca region was 3.8 percent in March, down from the 4 percent figure posted in March 2016.

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