Chenango jobless rate hits 8.8 percent
NORWICH – Chenango County’s 8.8 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reported yesterday afternoon for October was the highest seen locally in 19 years.
By comparison, it was higher than the rate reported in each of the five surrounding counties. Broome, Delaware and Cortland counties came in at 8.4 percent unemployment with Madison County at 7.3 percent and Otsego, 6.9 percent.
The State Labor Department reported that New York lost 12,700 private sector jobs in October, edging the rate up to 9.0 percent, the highest reported since April 1983. The number of private sector jobs in New York decreased by 12,700, or 0.2 percent, to 7,055,100.
Chenango County’s rate was unchanged since September, but compares to a 6.1 percent rate in October of 2008. The number of private sector jobs in Chenango County decreased by 400 over the past year, representing a six year low.
Most of the losses over the year were in the manufacturing sector, with 200 fewer workers on the job. Senior Economist Christian Harris said the county could see that number start to level off, however, as Raymond Corporation in Greene begins to absorbs its workforce from the company’s Canadian branch. Raymond previously shed 10 percent of its workforce as the nation’s recession set in last year.
“Obviously Raymond isn’t the only one. There’s quite a lot of manufacturing throughout the area and in the state and the nation that are seeing jobs decline,” Harris said.
The uncertain economy has hit consumer driven sectors such as trade and transportation and hospitality, with both losing 100 jobs locally since October of 2008.
Harris said Chenango’s flat rate over the past two months was somewhat unusual. “We usually see a little bit of an uptik going into the holiday season,” he said.
Since the New York State economy officially went into recession in August 2008, the state’s private sector job count has declined in 13 of the past 14 months. The statewide total nonfarm job count (private plus public sectors) also decreased over the month – by 15,300, or 0.2 percent, to 8,549,000 in October 2009.
The U.S. rate was 10.2 percent in October 2009, up from 9.8 percent in September.
Under the regular Unemployment Insurance program, individuals who are involuntarily unemployed through no fault of their own may be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits as long as they remain ready, willing and able to work, and are actively seeking employment. Under the temporary federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, enacted on June 30, 2008 as part of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, claimants who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular benefits are eligible to receive up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. Federal legislation signed into law on November 21, 2008 added up to 20 more weeks to the original 13 weeks of EUC08 benefits.
State legislation signed into law on May 20 this year provides additional weeks of Extended Benefits for individuals who have exhausted their EUC08 benefits. Currently, up to 20 weeks of EB are available because the state’s three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate exceeds 8.0 percent (the thresholds for 13 weeks and 20 weeks of EB are three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rates of 6.5 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively).
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
By comparison, it was higher than the rate reported in each of the five surrounding counties. Broome, Delaware and Cortland counties came in at 8.4 percent unemployment with Madison County at 7.3 percent and Otsego, 6.9 percent.
The State Labor Department reported that New York lost 12,700 private sector jobs in October, edging the rate up to 9.0 percent, the highest reported since April 1983. The number of private sector jobs in New York decreased by 12,700, or 0.2 percent, to 7,055,100.
Chenango County’s rate was unchanged since September, but compares to a 6.1 percent rate in October of 2008. The number of private sector jobs in Chenango County decreased by 400 over the past year, representing a six year low.
Most of the losses over the year were in the manufacturing sector, with 200 fewer workers on the job. Senior Economist Christian Harris said the county could see that number start to level off, however, as Raymond Corporation in Greene begins to absorbs its workforce from the company’s Canadian branch. Raymond previously shed 10 percent of its workforce as the nation’s recession set in last year.
“Obviously Raymond isn’t the only one. There’s quite a lot of manufacturing throughout the area and in the state and the nation that are seeing jobs decline,” Harris said.
The uncertain economy has hit consumer driven sectors such as trade and transportation and hospitality, with both losing 100 jobs locally since October of 2008.
Harris said Chenango’s flat rate over the past two months was somewhat unusual. “We usually see a little bit of an uptik going into the holiday season,” he said.
Since the New York State economy officially went into recession in August 2008, the state’s private sector job count has declined in 13 of the past 14 months. The statewide total nonfarm job count (private plus public sectors) also decreased over the month – by 15,300, or 0.2 percent, to 8,549,000 in October 2009.
The U.S. rate was 10.2 percent in October 2009, up from 9.8 percent in September.
Under the regular Unemployment Insurance program, individuals who are involuntarily unemployed through no fault of their own may be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits as long as they remain ready, willing and able to work, and are actively seeking employment. Under the temporary federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, enacted on June 30, 2008 as part of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, claimants who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular benefits are eligible to receive up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. Federal legislation signed into law on November 21, 2008 added up to 20 more weeks to the original 13 weeks of EUC08 benefits.
State legislation signed into law on May 20 this year provides additional weeks of Extended Benefits for individuals who have exhausted their EUC08 benefits. Currently, up to 20 weeks of EB are available because the state’s three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate exceeds 8.0 percent (the thresholds for 13 weeks and 20 weeks of EB are three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rates of 6.5 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively).
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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