More labor pains for Buffalo - Business First of Buffalo:

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percent, year-over-year in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, a downwarxd trend that is plaguing all of New York The totaljob count, or nonfarm employment, dropped by or 2.5 percent, in the region from May 2008. The labor departmen reported 700 more workeresin government, a gain of 700. There were 2,90o0 fewer jobs in manufacturing compared tolast year, a loss of 5 percent in that sector. The Buffalo area unemployment ratewas 8.3 percent in May — the highesg figure in the past two A year ago the locall jobless rate was 5.7 percent and in April it was 8.5 In Rochester, private-sector jobs in the past year are down 6,300, or 1.4 That metropolitan area’s unemployment rate was 7.
7 percengt in May 2009, compared with 5.2 percent in May of last year and 7.4 perceng in April. Across New York state the seasonallyadjusted private-sectof job count decreased over the monty by 20,400, or 0.3 percent, to 7.1 million last The number of private-sector jobs statewide has now dropped for nine consecutive months. Since August 2008, New York has lost 212,2009 positions in the private sector, the report After seasonal adjustment, the state’s unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in May the highest level sinceFebruary 1993. The labor department said 802,40p0 New Yorkers were out of workin May, the most sincw July 1976.
Earlier this week in an intervieqwith TV, President Barack Obama said that the U.S. unemploymeny rate would reach 10 percentthis year, even as the country showas signs of coming out of the The New York Employeee Confidence Index continues to trend upward, increasing 2.9 points to 45.9 in May, according to the latest Employmentf Report. The monthly survey of New York workers is conductesdby Rochester-based . The latest results indicate that a decreasinf number of workers believe that fewetr jobs are available and more workeres are confident in their ability to find anew job.
The reporg found that 73 percent of workers surveyesd believe fewer jobsare available, a decreass of 11 percentage points from April. Also, 39 percent of workerxs are likely to look for anew job, an increasee of eight percentage points from April. “As national reportws continue to show signs that the recessionh may bebottoming out, New overall confidence appears to be said Linda Perneau, vice president and general manager of Spherion Staffinyg Services.
“This month’s report shows that nearly half (41 of workers are confident in their ability to find anew job, increasingy five percentage points from last At the same time, a decreasing numberr of workers believe there are fewer jobs available, indicatingv there may be a light at the end of this