Report: Most CNY region unemployment rates rise in January compared to a year ago

Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, and Binghamton regions inched up in January compared to a year ago.

At the same time, the jobless rates in the Ithaca and Elmira regions remained the same.

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

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 6.0 percent in January, up from the 5.8 percent figure in January 2017.

The unemployment rate in the Utica–Rome region was 6.3 percent in January, up from 6.1 percent in the year-earlier period.

The jobless rate in the Watertown–Fort Drum area was 8.4 percent in January, up from 8.3 percent a year ago.

The unemployment rate in the Binghamton region was 6.8 percent in January, up from 6.6 percent in January 2017, according to figures from the state Labor Department.

The jobless rate in the Ithaca region was 4.7 percent in January, unchanged from the same month in 2017.

The unemployment rate in the Elmira region was 6.2 percent in January, unchanged from 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