Jobless Rates Rise In Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The unemployment rate is slightly higher now than this time last year, according to preliminary data released last week by the New York Department of Labor. Joblessness rose slightly in the Hudson Valley's three regions as defined by the DOL.

The news was mixed. From October 2018 to October 2019, New York state’s private sector employment count did increase, by 95,800, to 8.3 million.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.9 percent to 4.0 percent in October 2019.

• In the Dutchess-Putnam metro region, unemployment rose to 3.6 percent from 3.2 percent.
• In Kingston, unemployment rose to 3.4 percent from 3.2 percent.
• In Orange-Rockland-Westchester, unemployment rose to 3.7 percent from 3.3 percent.

Only one county in the lower Hudson Valley was on the state's list of counties in New York State with the lowest unemployment rates in October 2019:

• Columbia County (2.8%)
• Saratoga County (3.2%)
• Genesee County (3.4%)
• Nassau County (3.4%)
• Seneca County (3.4%)
• Ulster County (3.4%)
• Washington County (3.4%)
• Wyoming County (3.4%)
• Yates County (3.4%)