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Unemployment rises in latest numbers for the Rochester area

 Downtown Rochester skyline view.
Max Schulte
/
WXXI News
Downtown Rochester skyline view.

The latest numbers from the New York State Labor Department show a decline in private sector jobs and a rise in unemployment for the Rochester area.

The February unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, up from 5.1 a year ago, and there was a decline of 1,200 private sector jobs compared to a year ago. 

But State Labor Analyst Mark Barbano says it’s hard to compare the numbers because last year was a particularly strong year for job growth in the Rochester metropolitan area.

“For example, besides last year you have to go all the way back to 2007 in February where we can see a comparable rate, the rate was  5 percent, so it’s really the lowest rate, besides last year,  the lowest since 2007.“

Barbano says the latest numbers do reflect a decline in manufacturing jobs of about two percent compared to a year ago.

But he does expect the job numbers to improve as seasonal employment picks up in the coming months.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.