The unemployment rate for the Rochester region dropped in July to 6.1 percent, down from 7.2 percent a year ago. It was up slightly from June of this year, when it was 5.8 percent.
State labor officials say this marks the 18th consecutive month of over-the-year improvements in the jobless rate. The unemployment rate is expected to decline further in the coming months.
Officials say the slight rise from June to July was primarily seasonal in nature, with an influx of students looking for summer jobs combined with a decline in employment at public and private schools.
Last week, labor officials said the Rochester area saw an increase of 5700 private sector jobs in July compared to July of last year.
