Posted by New York’s unemployment rate fell slightly in July, dropping to 8.6 percent from 8.7 in June. That’s the state’s first month-to-month decrease in a year.
The state labor department’s Peter Neenan says federal stimulus-funded projects helped boost employment in the construction sector. He says there was also an increase in the number of young people hired for government-funded summer jobs.
Despite the increase statewide, the unemployment rate in New York City rose to 9.6 percent, the highest level since June 1997 and up from 9.3 percent in July.
Outside the Big Apple, St. Lawrence County in northern New York had the highest unemployment rate at 9.9. percent. Saratoga and Tompkins counties tied for the lowest rate with 6.3 percent.
Source: AP
