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Unemployment rate for Genesee County drops, more jobs reported

By Howard B. Owens

Unemployment in Genesee County fell to 7.1 percent for May 2011, down from April's figure of 8.0, and lower than a year ago when unemployment was 7.6.

Total non-farm jobs increased from April to May by 1,300 positions, going from 22,500 jobs in Genesee County to 23,800.

The May figure is the same as it was in May 2010.

Private-sector jobs increased month-over-month from 16,300 to 17,600, which also represents a year-over-year increase for May of 100 jobs.

Government jobs remained unchanged month-to-month, and down by 100 jobs year-over-year, going from 16,300 to 16,200. 

Leisure and hospitality jobs, such as those jobs counted at Darien Lake Theme Park, were up 45 percent from April to May, going from 2,400 to 3,500. In May 2010, the category had 3,400 jobs.

Nationally, the unemployment rate for May was 8.7 percent and for New York was 7.7 percent.

Jeremiah Pedro

So the increase in non-farm jobs was 1,300 jobs, the increase in jobs at Darien Lake was 1,000. So that there was only 300 jobs as a result of economic growth then right?

Jun 20, 2011, 1:48pm Permalink
Phil Ricci

Government jobs remained unchanged month-to-month and down by 100 jobs year-over-year, from 16,300 to 16,200.

WHAT?!?!?!?! There's that many people working for the government in this county?

Jun 20, 2011, 1:54pm Permalink
Dave McCarthy

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2010 there were 37,430 Genesee County residents age 18-65. If all of the 16,200 government workers are from Genesee County, that is 43% of the above age group. Possible conclusion: taxes paid by 57% of the work force pay the 43% on the gravy train.

Jun 20, 2011, 2:32pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Unemployment always drops in the summer months. Seasonal and construction employment balloon through the first week of October or so, then it's back to the crapper

Jun 20, 2011, 2:36pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Private, non-farm employment in the county (2008) is 17,339. Public sector jobs average 14.1% nationally, 16.3% for New York State. The high-end range for public employment is 22% (no, not New York or California; Alaska is second to Wyoming. New York ranks 9th). 2010 census shows the county population is 60,079. 16,200 public employees ciphers to just shy of 29%. Granted we have a veterans hospital, a community college, a stockade for illegal aliens, a state school, park and prison (located in Wyoming County, but employees reside here)...

Jun 20, 2011, 2:38pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Jobs in the Wyoming County prison would not be counted in the Genesee County number, even if people working there lived here.

The jobs number is of all jobs in the county, which includes jobs currently being held by people living in other counties.

The unemployment rate is the percentage of all work-eligible Genesee County residents who don't have jobs. The inverse number -- the number of people employed -- includes all people employed, whether working in GC or in other counties.

Jun 20, 2011, 2:42pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

There are 29,700 people in Genesee County with jobs, compared to a total of 23,800 job in the county.

If I could draw a Venn diagram in comments, there would be a circle for jobs and a circle for employed people and the portion where they overlapped would be the people who both live and work in Genesee County, and there would be some percentage of representation for each category that were outside the overlapping area.

Jun 20, 2011, 2:47pm Permalink
Bob Harker

Legislative Proposition #999:

In order to maintain economic growth in Genesee County, it is hereby mandated that ALL calendar months will be designated "Warm Weather Months". In this way, Part Time jobs in the Entertainment Sector and Full Time Farm Worker Sector jobs will remain at capacity through the distortion of smoke and mirrors. Due to their expertise in smoke and mirrors, the results of this mandate will be accounted for, and reported by, the GCEDC.

Jun 20, 2011, 6:40pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

Do the jobs at the federal prison (stockade for illegals as C.M. put it) that are filled by companies with govt. contract still count as govt. jobs in these numbers? I'm curious because technically these companies are private or public non-government companies.

Jun 20, 2011, 9:21pm Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

where do those numbers come from...are they unemployment figures from ppl who are unemployment....because if thats the case then not a true statistic...

Jun 22, 2011, 3:56pm Permalink

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