Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Buffalo rose 0.1 percentage points in February 2018 to 5.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points higher than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in February 2010 at 8.8% and is now 3.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.8% in March 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.6
New York	4.6%	-0.1	-0.1
Buffalo	5.5%	+0.1	+0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2018 data as March 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 March 2010 at 50,433. There are now 20,605 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 26,349 in March 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 3,479. Buffalo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Buffalo, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Buffalo	29,828	+403	+2,679

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	New York Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployment Rate	Buffalo Unemployed
March 2018	4.1%	4.6%	—	—
February 2018	4.1%	4.6%	5.5%	29,828
January 2018	4.1%	4.7%	5.4%	29,425
December 2017	4.1%	4.7%	5.6%	30,318
November 2017	4.1%	4.7%	5.6%	30,359
October 2017	4.1%	4.7%	5.3%	29,300
September 2017	4.2%	4.7%	5.3%	29,310
August 2017	4.4%	4.7%	5.4%	29,554
July 2017	4.3%	4.7%	5.3%	28,675
June 2017	4.3%	4.7%	5.2%	28,422
May 2017	4.3%	4.7%	5.1%	27,871
April 2017	4.4%	4.7%	5.0%	27,427