Department of Numbers

Rochester, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rochester fell 0.2 percentage points in April 2013 to 7.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Rochester peaked in December 2009 at 8.4% and is now 0.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Rochester unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate April 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.5% -0.1 -0.6
New York 7.8% -0.4 -0.8
Rochester 7.7% -0.2 -0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with April 2013 data as May metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Rochester, New York, National

Rochester, New York monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rochester, New York Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rochester peaked in January 2010 at 44,138. There are now 3,871 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 39,859 in April 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 408. Rochester employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rochester, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons April 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Rochester 40,267 -1,222 -2,085

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rochester, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New York
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployed
May
2013
7.6%
April
2013
7.5% 7.8% 7.7% 40,267
March
2013
7.6% 8.2% 7.9% 41,489
February
2013
7.7% 8.4% 8.1% 42,357
January
2013
7.9% 8.4% 8.1% 42,141
December
2012
7.8% 8.2% 7.9% 41,413
November
2012
7.8% 8.2% 8.0% 41,766
October
2012
7.9% 8.4% 8.1% 42,167
September
2012
7.8% 8.5% 8.1% 42,599
August
2012
8.1% 8.6% 8.2% 42,978
July
2012
8.2% 8.7% 8.2% 43,166
June
2012
8.2% 8.7% 8.2% 43,091
May
2012
8.2% 8.6% 8.2% 42,778

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.