Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Buffalo rose 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in August 2009 at 8.9% and is now 1.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.5% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
New York	8.0%	0.0	-0.2
Buffalo	7.8%	+0.1	-0.6

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Buffalo, New York, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Buffalo, New York Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Buffalo peaked in August 2009 at 51,758. There are now 7,411 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 42,925 in April 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,422. Buffalo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Buffalo, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Buffalo	44,347	+112	-3,906

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	New York Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	8.0%	7.8%	44,347
November 2011	8.7%	8.0%	7.7%	44,235
October 2011	8.9%	7.9%	7.8%	44,884
September 2011	9.0%	8.0%	7.8%	44,949
August 2011	9.1%	8.0%	7.8%	44,789
July 2011	9.1%	8.0%	7.8%	44,789
June 2011	9.1%	8.0%	7.8%	44,682
May 2011	9.0%	7.8%	7.6%	43,610
April 2011	9.0%	7.9%	7.5%	42,925
March 2011	8.9%	8.0%	7.6%	43,459
February 2011	9.0%	8.2%	7.8%	44,884
January 2011	9.1%	8.2%	8.1%	46,716