Department of Numbers

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Buffalo fell 0.5 percentage points in January 2021 to 7.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.8 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in April 2020 at 19.5% and is now 12.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.2% in November 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
National 6.3% -0.4 +2.8
New York 8.8% +0.1 +5.0
Buffalo 7.0% -0.5 +2.5
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2021 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Buffalo, New York, National

Buffalo, New York monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Buffalo, New York Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Buffalo peaked in April 2020 at 106,224. There are now 68,995 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 32,815 in November 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 4,414. Buffalo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Buffalo, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
Buffalo 37,229 -2,876 +12,778

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 New York
Unemployment Rate		 Buffalo
Unemployment Rate		 Buffalo
Unemployed
March
2021		 6.0% — — —
February
2021		 6.2% 8.9% — —
January
2021		 6.3% 8.8% 7.0% 37,229
December
2020		 6.7% 8.7% 7.5% 40,105
November
2020		 6.7% 8.7% 6.2% 32,815
October
2020		 6.9% 8.7% 7.1% 37,809
September
2020		 7.8% 10.0% 7.1% 37,673
August
2020		 8.4% 11.7% 11.0% 61,262
July
2020		 10.2% 14.7% 14.2% 80,859
June
2020		 11.1% 15.0% 13.8% 75,806
May
2020		 13.3% 15.7% 14.6% 79,754
April
2020		 14.8% 16.2% 19.5% 106,224

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. ↩

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