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 January 2023 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Buffalo peaked in April 2020 at 21.7% and is now 18.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in December 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Buffalo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
New York 4.2% +0.1 -0.9
Buffalo 3.5% 0.0 -0.7
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 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 118,819. There are now 99,825 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 January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Buffalo 18,994 -190 -2,965

Number of Unemployed Persons

Buffalo, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New York
Unemployment Rate
Buffalo
Unemployment Rate
Buffalo
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.5% 18,994
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.5% 19,184
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.7% 19,887
October
2022
3.7% 4.2% 3.7% 20,369
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.9% 21,064
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.9% 21,086
July
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.8% 20,489
June
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.7% 20,255
May
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.8% 20,214
April
2022
3.6% 4.3% 3.8% 20,185
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.9% 20,529

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.