Jobless Rate Drops In County

The unemployment rate changed direction and decreased in November in Chautauqua County.

In October, the rate increased for the first time since June, as it went up .2 percent, the state Department of Labor reported. In November, the rate dropped back down .2 percent, to a total of 8.2 percent.

Even though the rate decreased, the number of employed county workers dropped by 900, going from 58,200 in October to 57,300 in November. The job sector with the largest drop in employment was leisure and hospitality, falling by 400 workers, which was a 7.4 percent decrease. Professional and business services and manufacturing also dropped in the number of employed, lowering by 100 jobs each.

Education and health services and government were the only two job sectors with an increase, both rising by 100 jobs. The increase in education and health services was a 1.1 percent rise and government went up by .9 percent.

New York state's economy gained 83,500 private sector jobs in 2012. This year-to-date gain of jobs was impacted by the loss of 29,100 private sector jobs in November because of the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the greater New York City region. Between October and November, New York state's unemployment rate fell from 8.7 percent to 8.3 percent.

''In 2012, New York's economy grew by 83,500 private sector jobs,'' said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, state Division of Research and Statistics deputy director. ''These year-to-date figures are particularly strong given the negative impact of Hurricane Sandy to our state's economy.''

Professional and business services added the most jobs, 55,000, of any job sector statewide during the last year. Educational and health services increased by 27,800, which was the second largest increase in jobs. The job sector decreasing by the most jobs was construction, which lowered by 17,400. Manufacturing also dropped, losing 7,000 workers.