Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Buffalo fell 4.8 percentage points in May 2020 to 14.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in April 2020 at 19.5% and is now 4.8 percentage points lower. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	13.3%	-1.4	+9.7
New York	14.5%	-0.8	+10.5
Buffalo	14.7%	-4.8	+10.4

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with May 2020 data as June 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 April 2020 at 106,224. There are now 26,141 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Buffalo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Buffalo, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Buffalo	80,083	-26,141	+57,198

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	New York Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployed
June 2020	11.1%	15.7%	—	—
May 2020	13.3%	14.5%	14.7%	80,083
April 2020	14.7%	15.3%	19.5%	106,224
March 2020	4.4%	4.1%	4.8%	26,141
February 2020	3.5%	3.7%	4.4%	23,901
January 2020	3.6%	3.8%	4.5%	24,451
December 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.7%	25,312
November 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.6%	24,985
October 2019	3.6%	3.9%	4.5%	24,625
September 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.5%	24,252
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.4%	23,873
July 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.4%	23,494