Orleans unemployment rate at 4.0% in April, with labor force shrinking compared to year ago

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was 4.0 percent which continues a gradual decline from the start of the year, according to the state Department of Labor.

In Orleans County so far this year, the unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in January, then 5.2 percent in February, 4.9 percent in March and 4.0 percent in April.

The labor force is smaller compared to April 2023 when it was 17,100 total – 16,600 employed and 600 unemployed, according to the DOL. In April 2024, the labor force was 16,900 with 16,300 working and 700 unemployed.

Unemployment rates in WNY counties for April include 3.9 percent in Erie, 4.3 percent in Niagara, 3.8 in Livingston, 3.7 in Monroe, 4.0 in Orleans, 3.5 in Genesee, 4.2 percent in Wyoming, 4.2 in Cattaraugus, 4.2 percent in Chautauqua, and 4.1 in Allegany.

In the United States, the unemployment rate from April 2023 to April 2024 went from 3.1 percent to 3.5 percent. The U.S. has 515,000 more people working in that year for a total of 161.59 million last month.

In New York State, the unemployment rate from April 2023 to April 2024 went from 3.6 percent to 3.9 percent. The state has 19,300 fewer people working for a total of 9.28 million last month.

In New York, the unemployment rate has been trending down since the start of the year, form 4.3 percent in January, to 4.5 percent in February, 4.2 percent in March to 3.9 percent in April.