CNY unemployment rates decline in January

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 6.6 percent in January, down from 7.3 percent in January 2014.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 7.0 percent in January, lower than the 7.6 percent figure posted in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area was 8.8 percent in January, down from 9.6 percent in January 2014.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region fell to 7.2 percent in January from 7.9 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

And, the jobless rate in the Ithaca area came in at 4.8 percent in January, down from 5.1 percent in January 2014.

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

The Watertown–Fort Drum region was the lone exception, having lost a net 100 jobs, a decline of 0.2 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