CNY unemployment rates decline in January compared to a year ago

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica–Rome, Ithaca, and Watertown–Fort Drum metro areas fell in January, 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 5.6 percent in January, down from 6.6 percent in January 2015.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 5.9 percent in January, down from 7 percent in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area dipped to 7.4 percent in January from 8.7 percent in January 2015.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region fell to 6.3 percent in January from 7.3 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

The jobless rate in the Ithaca region was 4.2 percent in January, down from the 4.9 percent rate in January 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