Department of Numbers

Rochester, New York Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rochester fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the New York rate. The unemployment rate in Rochester peaked in April 2020 at 16.6% and is now 13.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in December 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Rochester 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
Rochester 3.2% 0.0 -0.5
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: 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 86,259. There are now 69,420 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 16,783 in December 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 56. Rochester employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rochester, New York) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rochester 16,839 +56 -2,308

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rochester, New York Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New York
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployment Rate
Rochester
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.2% 16,839
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.2% 16,783
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.3% 17,256
October
2022
3.7% 4.2% 3.4% 17,635
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.5% 18,291
August
2022
3.7% 3.9% 3.5% 18,369
July
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.4% 17,973
June
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.4% 17,716
May
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.4% 17,659
April
2022
3.6% 4.3% 3.4% 17,566
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.4% 17,829

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.