The New York State Labor Department says the Rochester area saw a decline in the unemployment rate in January compared to a year ago. It stood at 5.3 percent down from 6.2 percent in January of last year.
State Labor Analyst Tammy Marino says that is the lowest jobless rate for January in about a decade.
"Historically, the unemployment rate for the month of January tends to average around 5.8 percent, so at 5.3 percent we're considerably below that average."
State Labor Analyst Tammy Marino says the jobless rate did rise from December to January, but that's due to normal seasonal factors.
The statewide unemployment rate in January was 4.9 percent.
"Typically the unemployment will sit at its highest level for the year in January and February, with the warmer weather just around the corner we'll begin to see that unemployment rate declining seasonally at least through the summer."
Last week the state said the Rochester area saw a decline in private sector jobs in January by about 400 compared to a year ago, but Marino says that number may have been an anomaly, and she expects job growth to improve later in the year.
