NYS Department of Labor unemployment rates - how does New York compare with highest unemployment areas?
I've been out of work for 6 months now and filing my weekly claims religiously but still haven't found anything. My adjudication finally cleared last month but the job market feels impossible. I keep hearing about how some places have way higher unemployment than others and I'm wondering if New York is one of the worst states to be looking for work right now? Anyone know how NYS Department of Labor unemployment statistics compare to other places? Should I be considering relocating to find work or just keep grinding it out here?
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Nia Wilson
New York's unemployment rate is actually middle of the pack nationally right now. The NYS Department of Labor publishes monthly statistics and we're sitting around 4.2% which isn't terrible. Some rural areas upstate have higher rates but the NYC metro area is doing better than most places. Your job search requirements through NYS Department of Labor should be helping you network - are you using all the resources in your job search log?
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Luca Russo
•I've been doing the minimum 3 job contacts per week but maybe I need to step it up. The job search requirements feel like busy work sometimes but you're right, I should use them better.
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Mateo Sanchez
ugh the job market sucks everywhere right now!! ive been looking for 8 months and its brutal out there. at least your getting benefits though, my claim got stuck in adjudication for like 3 months
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Aisha Mahmood
•If you're still having adjudication issues, I had luck using Claimyr to actually get through to a NYS Department of Labor agent. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on.
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Ethan Clark
Same boat here! Been collecting UI for 4 months and honestly starting to panic. What industry are you in? I'm in retail and it feels like nobody's hiring full time anymore.
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Luca Russo
•I'm in marketing/communications. Lots of temp and contract stuff but nothing permanent. The NYS Department of Labor job search workshops have been somewhat helpful for networking though.
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AstroAce
The unemployment system is BROKEN! Six months and you still can't find work? That's not your fault, that's the economy being rigged against working people. NYS Department of Labor keeps talking about low unemployment but those numbers don't reflect people who've given up looking or are underemployed in gig work.
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Nia Wilson
•While the system definitely has flaws, the official unemployment rate does capture people actively seeking work. The issue is more about job quality and wage stagnation than the raw numbers.
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Yuki Kobayashi
Don't give up! I was unemployed for 8 months before landing my current job. The key is treating job searching like a full-time job itself. I know the NYS Department of Labor only requires 3 job contacts per week but I was doing 10-15. Also make sure you're keeping detailed records in case they audit your job search log.
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Luca Russo
•That's encouraging to hear! Did you find work in New York or did you end up having to relocate?
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Found something in Albany actually. The state capital area has more opportunities than people realize, especially if you're open to government or nonprofit work.
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