CNY region unemployment rates rise in December compared to a year ago

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, Ithaca, and Elmira regions inched up in December 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 5.1 percent in December, up from 5 percent in December 2016.

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The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region climbed to 5.4 percent in December from 5.1 percent in the year-earlier period, while the jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area was 7.2 percent in December, up from 7.1 percent a year ago.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region rose to 5.5 percent in December from 5.2 percent in December 2016, while the rate inched up to 3.9 percent in the Ithaca metro area from 3.8 percent in the same month in 2016.

The unemployment rate in the Elmira region was 5.5 percent in December, up from 5.2 percent in the year-earlier period.

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The December statewide unemployment figure of 4.6 percent was lower than the 4.8 number reported in December 2016, according to state Labor Department figures.

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.

Payroll data

The Syracuse region added 3,800 jobs between December 2016 and this past December, while the Ithaca area also added 1,800 jobs in the same period.

At the same time, the Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, and Binghamton regions added fewer than 1,000 jobs each. The Elmira region lost 1,000 jobs over the past year.

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That’s according to the latest monthly employment report that the New York State Department of Labor issued on Thursday.

The job gains for the Syracuse region in that 12-month period represent an increase of 1.2 percent.

The Utica–Rome metro area added 900 jobs in the past year, a gain of 0.7 percent.

The Watertown–Fort Drum region gained 700 jobs in the same period, an increase of 1.7 percent.

The job gains in the Ithaca area between December 2016 and this past December, represent an increase of 2.7 percent.

The Binghamton region added 700 jobs, a gain of 0.7 percent in the past 12 months.

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The Elmira metro area lost 1,000 jobs in the past 12 months, a decrease of 2.6 percent.

New York state as a whole gained more than 113,000 jobs, a rise of 1.2 percent, in that 12-month period. The state economy lost 500 jobs between November and December, the labor department said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Eric Reinhardt: