Local unemployment rates mirrored state figures in July — up from June, but close to figures from the year before.

The state Department of Labor reported Aug. 19 that the Cattaraugus County unemployment rate was 4.2% in July, up from 3.5% in June but down from 4.3% in July 2024. The labor force was 31,300, down from 32,300 in June and 32,000 in July 2024.

The employed labor force was 30,000, down from 31,200 in June and 30,600 in July 2024. The unemployed labor force was 1,300, up from 1,100 in June and down from 1,400 in July 2024.

All rates are derived from surveys and methods developed by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s area unemployment rates, in part, rely on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 2,800 households in each state each month. The rates are not adjusted for seasonal variations — with rates typically peaking in January or February. The Cattaraugus County rate peaked in February at 5.3%.

The state unemployment rate was 4.6% in July, up from 3.8% in June and down from 4.8% in July 2024. The labor force was 9.94 million, down from 9.93 million in June and 9.98 million in July 2024.

The employed labor force was 9.49 million, down from 9.55 million in June and at the same level as July 2024. The unemployed labor force was 453,300, up from 381,200 in June and down from 483,100 in July 2024.

The lowest unemployment rate was 3%, reported in Essex and Saratoga counties. Five counties — Genesee, Putnam, Warren, Washington and Yates — reported rates of 3.1%.

The highest unemployment rate was 7.6% in Bronx County. The highest outside of New York City was 5.1% in St. Lawrence County, followed by 4.6% in Allegany County. Sixteen counties reported rates between 4% and 4.9%, including all five counties in the Western New York region.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate was 4.2%, roughly the same as in June and in July 2024.

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in July at 1.9%, followed by North Dakota at 2.5% and Vermont at 2.6%. California had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5%, followed by Nevada at 5.4% and Michigan at 5.3%.