Rochester's Unemployment Rate Improves Again

April saw the lowest number of unemployed people looking for work since 2008, according to state Labor Department figures released Tuesday.

The unemployment rate in the Rochester region hit 7.2 percent in April, down from 8 percent in April 2010. It marked the lowest the area's unemployment rate has been since December 2008's 6.5 percent. It also marked the 12th straight month of a year over year decline in the unemployment rate.

According to the latest jobs figures, 488,100 people were employed in the Rochester region in April, up from 483,900 in April 2010. Conversely, 37,800 job seekers were among the ranks of the unemployed in April, down from 42,100 in April 2010. That marked the seventh straight month of growing numbers of employed in the area.
April's jobs figures for the Buffalo and Syracuse areas showed similar improvements, with both having unemployment rates of 7.6 percent, down from 8.3 percent in April 2010.