Report: Most CNY region unemployment rates decline in September compared to a year ago

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, and Elmira regions fell in September compared to a year ago, while the jobless rates in the Utica–Rome and Ithaca regions were unchanged.

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

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 4.8 percent in September, down from 4.9 percent in September 2016.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was unchanged at 4.8 percent in September.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area fell to 5.3 percent in September from 5.6 percent a year ago.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region dipped to 5 percent in September, from 5.2 percent in September 2016, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

The jobless rate in the Ithaca region was 4.3 percent in September, unchanged from the same month in 2016.

The unemployment rate in the Elmira region fell to 5.2 percent in September from 5.7 percent in the year-earlier period.

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