The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for February 2014, which are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate relies in part on the results of a telephone survey of 3,100 households (out of more than 7 million) in New York State.

The state’s private sector job count increased by 117,200 from February 2013 to February 2014. As reported last week, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8% in February 2014. The economy added 12,800 private sector jobs in February 2014, bringing the state’s private sector job count to a record high of 7,543,100.

The data in the preceding table are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month; for example, February 2013 versus February 2014.

Unemployment rate highlights in February 2014:

See County Unemployment Rates (opens in new window) for current unemployment rates for all 62 counties in New York State.

Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. Revised estimates for prior months are available at: http://labor.ny.gov/stats/LSLAUS.shtm

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties, and municipalities of at least 25,000.

See State and Area Unemployment Rates (opens in new window)

See Unemployment Rate Map (opens in new window)

See Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet (opens in new window)