County Unemployment Rate Increases In November

Chautauqua County's unemployment rate has increased .6 percent to 7.5 percent in November, up from 6.9 percent in October.

However, the unemployment rate in November this year was lower than what it was in November 2010 when it was 8.2 percent, .7 percent higher, according to information from the state Labor Department.

The job market with the largest decrease in workers in November was leisure and hospitality, which dropped 400 jobs, a 7.5 percent down turn. Natural resources, mining and construction and professional and business services also decreased in November, both losing 100 jobs. The drop in jobs was a 4.3 percent lowering for natural resources, mining and construction and a 2.6 percent decrease for professional and business services. The only job sector with an increase in jobs in November in the county was government, which jumped 100 jobs, a .9 percent rise.

The state's unemployment rate also increased during November, going from 7.9 percent in October to 8 percent. One factor contributing to the increase in the state's unemployment rate was a rise in the size of the statewide labor force, which grew by 9,900 as more people re-entered the job market to look for work.

''The New York state economy added 34,400 private sector jobs in November 2011. This was the state's second largest monthly gain in private-sector jobs since our economic recovery began in November 2009,'' said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, state Division of Research and Statistics deputy director.

Professional and business services added the most jobs, 35,700, in the state during the last year. Educational and health services also increased by 27,700. There was a jump in jobs for leisure and hospitality, which went up by 21,600.

Government lost more jobs than any other sector, 9,200, during the past year. Manufacturing job count also declined by 4,300 since last year.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped dropped in November, from 9 percent in October to 8.6 percent.