Rochester, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rochester fell 3.7 percentage points in May 2020 to 11.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.9 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Rochester peaked in April 2020 at 15.3% and is now 3.7 percentage points lower. You can also compare Rochester 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
Rochester	11.6%	-3.7	+7.6

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: Rochester, New York, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rochester, New York Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rochester peaked in April 2020 at 77,917. There are now 18,679 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Rochester employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rochester, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Rochester	59,238	-18,679	+38,438

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rochester, New York Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	New York Unemployment Rate	Rochester Unemployment Rate	Rochester Unemployed
June 2020	11.1%	—	—	—
May 2020	13.3%	14.5%	11.6%	59,238
April 2020	14.7%	15.3%	15.3%	77,917
March 2020	4.4%	4.1%	4.6%	23,983
February 2020	3.5%	3.7%	4.1%	21,744
January 2020	3.6%	3.8%	4.3%	22,321
December 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.4%	23,045
November 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.4%	22,807
October 2019	3.6%	3.9%	4.3%	22,527
September 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.3%	22,209
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.2%	21,847
July 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	21,460