Department of Numbers

Rochester, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rochester rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Rochester peaked in April 2020 at 16.6% and is now 13.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Rochester unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
New York 4.2% +0.2 0.0
Rochester 3.4% +0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with October 2023 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Rochester, New York, National

Rochester, New York monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rochester, New York Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rochester peaked in April 2020 at 86,750. There are now 68,486 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 15,927 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,337. Rochester employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rochester, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rochester 18,264 +1,030 +630

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rochester, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New York
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 4.2% 3.4% 18,264
September
2023
3.8% 4.0% 3.3% 17,234
August
2023
3.8% 3.9% 3.1% 16,645
July
2023
3.5% 3.9% 3.1% 16,100
June
2023
3.6% 3.9% 3.1% 16,117
May
2023
3.7% 3.9% 3.1% 16,030
April
2023
3.4% 4.0% 3.1% 15,927
March
2023
3.5% 4.1% 3.2% 16,493
February
2023
3.6% 4.2% 3.3% 16,921
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.4% 17,458
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.4% 17,522

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.