Orleans sees drop in unemployment rate

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2015 at 12:00 am

The unemployment rate in Orleans County dropped from 7.2 percent in May 2014 to 6.0 percent this past May, according to the state Department of Labor.

There were 17,100 people working in the county in May, compared to 16,800 in May 2014. The number of unemployed fell from 1,300 in May 2014 to 1,100 in May 2015.

The 6.0 percent unemployment rate is higher than the 5.3 percent rate in both New York and for the country. Of the 62 counties in New York, Orleans is one of 14 with an unemployment rate at 6.0 percent or higher.

Here are the rates for other nearby counties: Genesee, 4.7; Wyoming, 5.2; Livingston, 5.3; Niagara, 5.7; Erie, 5.2; and Monroe, 5.1.

Columbia County has the lowest unemployment rate in state at 3.9 percent and the Bronx is the highest at 8.0 percent.