Jobless Rates Rise Slightly in Putnam-Dutchess

BREWSTER, NY — New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.7 percent to 4.8 percent in August 2017. Jobless rates also rose locally in two of the three regional metro areas in the Hudson Valley, though they continue to be slightly lower than the state average.

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In the Orange-Rockland-Westchester metro area, the rate rose to 4.6 percent from 4.3 percent this time last year.

Dutchess-Putnam only saw a tiny tick upward: to 4.2 from 4.1 percent. That might be because Dutchess was one of the counties with the lowest jobless rates in August. In fact, only Dutchess County made the state's list of counties with the lowest unemployment rates.

Kingston remained steady, at 4.5 percent.

Here are the counties in New York State with the lowest unemployment rates in August 2017:

• Columbia County (3.6%)
• Hamilton County (3.7%)
• Saratoga County (3.8%)
• Yates County (3.9%)
• Ontario County (4.0%)
• Genesee County (4.1%)
• Seneca County (4.1%)
• Washington County (4.1%)
• Dutchess County (4.2%)
• Nassau County (4.2%)
• Warren County (4.2%)

Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.