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County's unemployment rate the lowest its been in 17 months

Submitted by Howard Owens on June 23, 2010 - 7:30am

Genesee County's unemployment rate dropped to 6.6 percent in May, four points lower than May 2009, and five points lower than April.

Batavia's unemployment rate is the best its been since November, 2008, when the rate was 6.0.

The official numbers confirm anecdotal evidence of an improving employment picture provided last week by Scott Gage, director of the Genesee County Career Center.

The positive trend is ahead of the curve for New York State, which saw only a one point improvement in the job picture, with the state going from 8.4 to 8.3 year-over-year.

Genesee County is also faring better than all of the surrounding counties, which continue to have unemployment rates of at least 7 percent, with Wyoming and Orleans counties above 8 percent.

The Buffalo area's 7.6 percent unemployment rate is the best it's been since December 2008, when the rate was 6.8 percent. Rochester's rate of 7.3 percent is also a big improvement over the previous 16 months.

June 23, 2010 - 8:58am

Chuck Lowder

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Joined: Aug 11 2008

I have to question this. Why? How many people's unemployment ran out and they are no longer eligible for unemployment insurance? How many had to go on the welfare roll because they ran out of options and had no choice? How many of these people moved out of NYS to find work and lower taxes in other parts of the country? Are there any statistics' (with the exception of people leaving NYS) on this information? With business in the mode of down sizing and closures, what are all these people going to do and where are they going? I've never heard or seen any reports on this. Does anyone have the answer?

June 23, 2010 - 9:36am

Howard Owens

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Joined: Apr 23 2008

As Scott Gage says, job orders are up significantly at the career center.

June 23, 2010 - 9:52am

S Ferringer

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Joined: Oct 22 2008

The number may be up @ the career center and may reflect a slight increase, but I have to agree with Mr. Lowder - I feel that the jobless/unemployment numbers become "statistically adjusted" when those who have formerly been receiving unemployment run out and go off the list. They are still unemployed, just not collecting which would have kept them on the official list. Anyone who has ever taken Statistics knows how to make the numbers appear in a better light. You only need to rearrange the numbers and use a different formula. Tricks of the trade. Gives the people some hope.

June 23, 2010 - 10:13am

Chris Charvella

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Joined: Jan 15 2009

This doesn't take into account underemployment either.

June 23, 2010 - 11:33am

C. M. Barons

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Joined: Jul 29 2008

The unemployment rate remains 8% or greater. And the reported spike was to be anticipated: the predictable, temporary seasonal increase and recent employment of temp Census Workers likely account for it.

June 23, 2010 - 11:42am

Howard Owens

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Joined: Apr 23 2008

God forbid we be optimistic about something. That might lead to positive results.

June 23, 2010 - 12:04pm

C. M. Barons

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Joined: Jul 29 2008

Scott Gage is a great county asset as is the Career Center. Not only have I worked with Scott, I've seen first-hand the benefits from the services his agency offers. I don't doubt he sees reason for optimism. I derive more encouragement from his reported increase in help-wanteds than interpretations of state unemployment data.

June 23, 2010 - 12:16pm

(Reply to #4) #9

Janice Stenman

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Joined: Mar 8 2009

I'm with Howard on this. Regardless of how people "feel" the numbers don't lie. Seasonal jobs are availble everywhere. Underemployment is a problem everywhere. There are no special numbers for Genesee County. Darien Lake is mostly seasonal and they are located in Genesee County, but they pull in workers from all the surrounding counties. So that's not an arguement either. Also, they give first dibs to locals, so obviously they have to extend the search to outside the county. Anyhow....that's how I "feel."