NYS Labor Department releases preliminary unemployment rates

The New York State Department of Labor has released preliminary local area unemployment rates for July 2020.

The rates, which were released in a statement on Wednesday August 26, 2020, are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to the statement, the State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.

The statement says that from July 2019 to July 2020, the State’s private sector employment count decreased by 1,184,500.

“The State’s seasonally adjusted private sector job count increased over the month by 244,200, or 3.6%, to 7,116,200 in July 2020.

“The State’s private sector job count is based on a payroll survey of 18,000 New York employers, which is conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,” the statement reads.

It adds that the State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 15.6% to 15.9% in July 2020.

Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month.

Revised estimates for prior months are available at: labor.ny.gov/stats/LSLAUS.shtm
Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence.

Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties and municipalities with population of at least 25,000.