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Local unemployment rate up slightly in October

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee County's jobless rate continues to be a bit better than New York as a whole, but that's only looking at the glass as half full.

From the half-empty perspective, there were more people unemployed in Genesee County in October than there were in September.

The county's rate inched up from 7.1 percent to 7.3 percent.  (full data from the state here)

Meanwhile, the state rate climbed to 9 percent.

The even less rosy number is the jump over the past year for Genesee County from a 5.2 percent unemployment rate to the current 7.3 percent.

Chelsea O'Brien

Please remember, these numbers don't count current college graduates who can't collect unemployment, those who are underemployed, and others who don't report unemployment/underemployment.

Nov 20, 2009, 10:24am Permalink
Bruce Wiseley

We are still three points lower than the national average, so something must be working in this area! Then to continue with the last writer's thoughts- the National average would be closer to 15%, but the "Lame=Stream Media" will never accurately report these because it would impune the current administration, God forbid!

Nov 20, 2009, 2:12pm Permalink
Sheryl Smigelski

Don't forget those who have run out of unemployment and are now collecting social services assistance because they have no other choice.

Nov 20, 2009, 2:31pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Bruce, I'm as critical of MSM as the next blogger, but to be fair -- the media reports the numbers as provided by the government institutions. There are no other numbers to report. The comments here correctly point out some of the miscalculations of those numbers, but there is no media conspiracy in this regard. They're just reporting what they are told.

Nov 20, 2009, 2:43pm Permalink
Bruce Wiseley

And there lies the problem, Howard. Do you really think the government would actually release factual numbers to the media? I'm from Detroit (insert joke here), and when I hear the complaints from the people around here, they really have no clue what "Hard Times" means, thankfully! Point in fact; GM and Chrysler (both Obama motors) have laid off over 20% of their workforce, and GM was actually thrilled they only lost 1.2 Billion Dollars, which means the taxpayers lost that money. To quote an old character from SNL, "What a Country"!

Nov 21, 2009, 6:55am Permalink

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