Most CNY unemployment rates fall in April from a year ago

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

The lone exception was the Ithaca region, which posted a jobless rate of 3.8 percent, up from the 3.7 percent rate in April 2014.

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 5.4 percent in April, down from 5.8 percent a year prior.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 5.7 percent in April, below the 6.1 percent figure posted in April 2014.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area fell to 7.2 percent in April, from 8.2 percent a year earlier.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region dipped to 5.9 percent in April from 6.2 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

Most areas of Central New York added jobs between April 2014 and this past April, according a state Labor Department news release distributed May 21.

The Ithaca region lost a net 800 jobs in the same 12-month time span, representing a decline of 1.1 percent according to the state Labor Department data.

The Binghamton region lost 300 jobs, a decrease of 0.3 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