August Rate of 5.1% Reaches 8-Year Low; Erie County Rate is Lower Than NYS Average

ERIE COUNTY, NY—The New York State Department of Labor today released the August 2015 unemployment report for counties across the state, revealing that the unemployment rate in the Buffalo-Niagara region had fallen to 5.2% while the unemployment rate in Erie County alone slipped to 5.1%, the lowest it has been in eight years. The local unemployment rate, which stood at 8.6% in August 2012, has been dropping steadily for the last 36 months and has been below 6% for six straight months, the first time that has happened since 2008.

“These numbers clearly show Erie County’s continuing resurgence and the increasing vitality of our economic sector,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Today more people are employed, more people are staying and working in Western New York or coming here to pursue jobs, and more employers are looking at our area as one that fits their workforce needs. While these numbers are very good, there is still work to do to ensure that everyone who is looking for work can take part in this employment boom.”

More information on the August 2015 report can be found at https://labor.ny.gov/stats.