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Jobless rate dips; totals peak
By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Columbia County’s unemployment rate is down from last month along with Greene County, but the numbers don’t indicate the job market will bounce back anytime soon.
For July 2009, Columbia County’s unemployment rate is 7.5 percent, according to state Department of Labor statistics released Aug. 20. June 2009’s rate for Columbia County was 7.8 percent. A year ago, in July 2008, Columbia County’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent.
Greene County’s unemployment rate for July 2009 is 8.2 percent, down from 8.9 percent in June 2009. A year ago, in July 2008, Greene County’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent.
Both counties fare better than New York state’s overall unemployment rate for July 2009, which is 8.6 percent. In June 2009, the state’s overall rate was 8.7 percent. In July 2008, New York’s overall unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
The national unemployment rate is still much higher than the local rates, at 9.4 percent in July 2009, compared with 9.5 percent in June 2009. July 2008’s national unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
Those who receive monthly unemployment benefits in New York state also increased, from 425,964 monthly beneficiaries of unemployment in June 2009 to 434,354 monthly beneficiaries in July 2009. In June 2008, 219,431 people were receiving monthly unemployment benefits.
The counties with highest unemployment rates statewide were 12.5 percent for Bronx County, 10.6 percent for Kings County, and 9.9 for St. Lawrence County in July 2009.
New York State’s private sector job count increased by 14,000 in July 2009, or .2 percent. The private sector job count is now 7,089,500 statewide. This was the state’s first monthly increase in the private sector job count since August 2008.
Columbia County’s July unemployment rate is the highest in two decades, according to information from the state Department of Labor. The Columbia County workforce dropped from 33,400 in July 2008 to 33,000 this July.
The number of unemployed people in Columbia County went from 1,600 last July to 2,500 this year. This is a record number of unemployed county residents for the month of July, and the highest since 1990.
Greene County’s unemployment rate is also the highest it has been since 1990. The Greene County workforce dropped from 25,300 in July 2008 to 25,100 last month.
The number of unemployed people in Greene County went from 1,400 in July 2008 to 2100 last month. This represents the highest number of unemployed persons in the county since 1990.
“There’s a lot of flux in the labor market right now, but there is a consensus that the overall conditions are improving,” said Kevin Jack, labor market analyst for the state Department of Labor. “As the overall economy improves, the labor market will lag the overall improvement. They typically follow improvements in economic conditions.”
If you are a resident of Columbia or Greene county and have recently (or not so recently) become unemployed, there are local resources available. Columbia-Greene Workforce New York offers job training and career planning programs, along with financial aid for those who qualify, as well as resume help. The state Department of Labor also offers job search services.
For more information on Columbia-Greene Workforce, call 518-828-1399 or visit their web site at www.columbiagreeneworks.org/. For the state Department of Labor, visit http://www.labor.state.ny.us.
***
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
For July 2009, Columbia County’s unemployment rate is 7.5 percent, according to state Department of Labor statistics released Aug. 20. June 2009’s rate for Columbia County was 7.8 percent. A year ago, in July 2008, Columbia County’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent.
Greene County’s unemployment rate for July 2009 is 8.2 percent, down from 8.9 percent in June 2009. A year ago, in July 2008, Greene County’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent.
Both counties fare better than New York state’s overall unemployment rate for July 2009, which is 8.6 percent. In June 2009, the state’s overall rate was 8.7 percent. In July 2008, New York’s overall unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
The national unemployment rate is still much higher than the local rates, at 9.4 percent in July 2009, compared with 9.5 percent in June 2009. July 2008’s national unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
Those who receive monthly unemployment benefits in New York state also increased, from 425,964 monthly beneficiaries of unemployment in June 2009 to 434,354 monthly beneficiaries in July 2009. In June 2008, 219,431 people were receiving monthly unemployment benefits.
The counties with highest unemployment rates statewide were 12.5 percent for Bronx County, 10.6 percent for Kings County, and 9.9 for St. Lawrence County in July 2009.
New York State’s private sector job count increased by 14,000 in July 2009, or .2 percent. The private sector job count is now 7,089,500 statewide. This was the state’s first monthly increase in the private sector job count since August 2008.
Columbia County’s July unemployment rate is the highest in two decades, according to information from the state Department of Labor. The Columbia County workforce dropped from 33,400 in July 2008 to 33,000 this July.
The number of unemployed people in Columbia County went from 1,600 last July to 2,500 this year. This is a record number of unemployed county residents for the month of July, and the highest since 1990.
Greene County’s unemployment rate is also the highest it has been since 1990. The Greene County workforce dropped from 25,300 in July 2008 to 25,100 last month.
The number of unemployed people in Greene County went from 1,400 in July 2008 to 2100 last month. This represents the highest number of unemployed persons in the county since 1990.
“There’s a lot of flux in the labor market right now, but there is a consensus that the overall conditions are improving,” said Kevin Jack, labor market analyst for the state Department of Labor. “As the overall economy improves, the labor market will lag the overall improvement. They typically follow improvements in economic conditions.”
If you are a resident of Columbia or Greene county and have recently (or not so recently) become unemployed, there are local resources available. Columbia-Greene Workforce New York offers job training and career planning programs, along with financial aid for those who qualify, as well as resume help. The state Department of Labor also offers job search services.
For more information on Columbia-Greene Workforce, call 518-828-1399 or visit their web site at www.columbiagreeneworks.org/. For the state Department of Labor, visit http://www.labor.state.ny.us.
***
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
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