Unemployment rate of 4.3% for Orleans was lowest for a January in 30-plus years

The state Department of Labor reports a better employment picture for Orleans County this past January compared to a year earlier.

The unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 percent in January 2021 to 4.3 percent in January 2022. In Orleans, there were 400 more people working – 16,000 to 16,400 – while those on unemployment dropped from 1,200 to 700.

The 4.3 percent unemployment rate is the lowest for January in Orleans County for state DOL records going back to 1990. It was up from the months ending 2021 with 3.2 percent in December, 3.4 percent in November, 3.7 percent in October and 3.9 percent in September.

The unemployment rates for January in Western New York counties includes: Orleans, 4.3%; Genesee, 3.8%; Wyoming, 4.5%; Livingston, 3.8%; Monroe, 4.0%; Erie, 4.4%; Niagara, 4.9%; Chautauqua, 4.7%; Cattaraugus, 4.7%; and Allegany, 4.6%.

In United States, the national rate is at 4.4 percent, compared to 6.8 percent a year before in January 2021. In New York State, the rate dropped from 9.3 percent to 5.3 percent.

The US increased employment by 7.235 million, from 148.38 million to 155.62 million and unemployment dropped by 3.64 million.

In New York, employment increased by 426,500, from 8.475 million to 8.902 million with unemployment decreasing by 365,900 from January 2021 to January 2022.