Department of Numbers

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Buffalo fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in April 2020 at 21.7% and is now 18.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
New York 3.9% -0.1 -0.2
Buffalo 3.3% 0.0 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June 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 119,582. There are now 101,652 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 17,792 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 138. Buffalo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Buffalo, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Buffalo 17,930 +138 -1,889

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New York
Unemployment Rate
Buffalo
Unemployment Rate
Buffalo
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.9% 3.3% 17,930
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 3.3% 17,792
March
2023
3.5% 4.1% 3.4% 18,442
February
2023
3.6% 4.2% 3.5% 18,833
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.6% 19,358
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.6% 19,454
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.6% 19,463
October
2022
3.7% 4.2% 3.6% 19,553
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.6% 19,744
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.7% 19,899
July
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.7% 19,958

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.