The unemployment rate increased again in Chautauqua County in June.
This is the second consecutive month the unemployment rate was higher, raising by 0.4 to 8.8 percent. The unemployment rate in the county is 1 point higher than it was last year at this time when it was only 7.8 percent, according to information from the state Labor Department.
Even though the unemployment rate increased in the county, the number of people employed also rose. In June, 58,000 county residents were employed, which is 800 higher than in May.
Job sectors which increased in employment included leisure and hospitality, which went up by 400 workers or 7.7 percent. Manufacturing and education and health services increased by 100 employees in June. Government was the only job sector to lose workers, lowering by 300, which was a 2.8 percent decrease.
The overall state's economy added 15,400 private-sector jobs, or 0.2 percent increase, in June. By comparison, the nation's private-sector job count increased by 84,000, or 0.1 percent. The state's labor force grew by 105,000 since July 2011. The growth in the labor force contributed to a rise in the state's unemployment rate, from 8.6 percent in May to 8.9 percent in June.
When more job seekers enter or re-enter the labor market due to renewed confidence about finding employment, an area's unemployment rate temporarily rises, said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, state Division of Research and Statistics deputy director.
''The state's private-sector employers continued to add jobs in June 2012. The latest job statistics show that while New York has regained all of the private sector jobs it lost during the state's recession, the U.S. has only recouped 42 percent of its lost jobs. In recent months, growth in our statewide labor force, however, has contributed to a higher state jobless rate,'' Wynnyk said.
Professional and business services added the most jobs, 53,100, during the last year in the state. Educational and health services had the second largest increase with 44,200.
During the past year, construction lost more jobs, 9,700, than any other sector in the state. The information job sector lost 4,800 jobs during the past year.