Local News
ECONOMY: Local unemployment rate improves slightly
Unemployment rates locally decreased, but the area is still losing jobs, according to figures released by the state labor department Thursday.
The Lockport area saw its unemployment rate drop to 9.5 percent last month, an improvement from 10.3 percent in July. Still, the number is much higher than the 6.5 percent unemployment from a year ago.
John Slenker, a Western New York market analyst, said it’s a good sign the unemployment rate has dropped, although the decline in the unemployment rate is normal for this time of year. Jobs are still being lost, but at slower rate than earlier in the year.
“It is good because it is following a seasonal pattern,” Slenker said. “In a recession, what happens is unemployment lags behind the economy, so it takes longer to recover.”
Niagara County’s unemployment rate was 9 percent in August, down from 9.4 percent in July. The Buffalo and Niagara Falls area saw its unemployment rate go down slightly to 8.4 percent last month, a decrease from 8.6 percent in July.
New York State’s unemployment rate increased to 9 percent, from 8.6 percent in July and was at its highest point since April 1983. Nationwide, unemployment also went up to 9.7 percent in August, an increase from 9.4 percent in July and 6.2 percent unemployment one year ago.
Slenker said while Western New York has been insulated from most of the recession’s effects, to improve economically, the country has to turn around first. There is no area in the United States big enough to recover from the recession on its own.
“As the nation improves, we’ll improve,” Slenker said.
Businesses in the trade, construction and manufacturing fields were hit hard with unemployment in August. That is common in a recession because people aren’t buying as much, which cuts down on trade, since there is less to sell, and manufacturing, since there is less to be made. Construction goes down because fewer houses and structures are built. Slenker said that could be turning around, because people aren’t panicking about the recession, but are still being conservative with their money.
“The panic stage is over, and that is good,” Slenker said.
The state said private sector jobs decreased by 2,200, or less than 0.1 percent, to 7,083,300 in August. The statewide total job count, excluding farm jobs, decreased over the month by 3,800, or less than 0.1 percent, to 8,645,400 in August.
Peter Neenan, director of the Division of Research and Statistics, said New York employers jobs cuts were more modest than the rest of the nation. But the number of those unemployed in New York state increased to 874,300, the highest total on record since the state starting keeping unemployment totals in 1976.
“The number of unemployed New Yorkers in August reached its highest recorded level,” he said.
Slenker said people should have a wait and see approach to what the future brings in unemployment. Some experts believe the recession is either ending or at least bottoming out; if that is so, then the market needs to stabilize and stop losing jobs, Slenker said.
“We should be cautiously optimistic,” he said.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
- Local News
-
-
Emmett 'Triumphant' at Molson Canal Concert
Rik Emmett, the Canadian singer and former front man for the band Triumph, headlines Friday night’s Molson Canal Concert.
-
Lockport folks regaining pride through Old Home Week
Old Home Week was a hit, not on a grand scale, but on a hometown level, appreciated by natives and visitors, alike.
-
Airline safety bill OK'd
Members of the Western New York congressional delegation on Friday praised the final passage of sweeping legislation aimed at improving airline safety in the wake of a deadly commuter plane crash in Clarence Center last year.
-
Kids show off musical skills at Kenan
Eighteen fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students took part in a public concert on Friday at the Kenan Center Taylor Theater as part of the Summer Music Arts Program.
-
Red carpet rolled out for new Falls visitor center
John Percy was serious Friday when he pledged to roll out the red carpet for more than 200 guests attending the official opening of the new $2.4 million state-of-the-art Niagara USA Visitor Center.
-
BOCES program puts focus on careers
A group of students in grades 5 through 8 spent a part of their summer vacation inside of the classroom — and preparing for their future.
- Police blotter published July 31
-
How to protect against West Nile virus
The last reported case of West Nile virus in Niagara County came last year, affecting a Town of Lockport resident in the area of Upper Mountain Road and Sunset Drive.
With another confirmed case of infected mosquitos just south of Buffalo this week, authorities are warning residents to take precautions -
State incentive encourages Barker-Lyndonville schools merger
There would be a big advantage for the school districts of Barker and Lyndonville if they were to merge, an advisory committee found out Thursday.
-
Teen released, man in fair condition after fire
Two of three men injured in a boat fire Tuesday in Wrights Corners have been released from the hospital, while a third is still in fair condition.
- More Local News Headlines
-
