Which NYS Department of Labor office has highest unemployment rates right now?
I'm trying to understand which areas in New York have the highest unemployment rates currently. My cousin lives upstate and says it's really bad there but I'm in the city and it seems like everyone's hiring. Does the NYS Department of Labor publish data on which regions have the highest unemployment? I'm thinking about relocating for work and want to know where NOT to go. Also wondering if certain areas get processed faster for unemployment claims because of higher volume or if it's the opposite.
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Grant Vikers
The NYS Department of Labor publishes monthly unemployment statistics by region. Generally, upstate areas like the North Country and Southern Tier tend to have higher unemployment rates than NYC metro. You can find the data on the Department of Labor website under Labor Statistics. As for claim processing, higher volume areas don't necessarily process faster - it's more about staffing levels at each office.
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Amaya Watson
•Thanks! Do you know if the unemployment rates affect how long it takes to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor? I imagine busier offices have longer wait times.
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Giovanni Martello
from what i've seen the rural areas definitely have higher unemployment but that doesn't mean the claims process is any different. all unemployment claims go through the same system regardless of where you file from. the processing times are pretty consistent across the state
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Savannah Weiner
•That's not totally accurate - some local offices are definitely understaffed compared to others. I had to call the NYS Department of Labor for weeks before getting through, but my friend in Buffalo got someone on the first try.
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Levi Parker
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent quickly. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time when I needed to check on my claim status instead of calling for hours.
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Libby Hassan
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone at our own state agency...
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Levi Parker
•I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. The regular NYS Department of Labor phone lines were impossible to get through and I was stressed about my adjudication taking so long.
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Hunter Hampton
The whole system is a mess regardless of which county you're in. High unemployment areas probably mean more people fighting for the same crappy jobs AND more people filing claims. It's lose-lose everywhere in this state!!
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Sofia Peña
•I feel you on the frustration but some areas really are doing better than others economically. NYC and Albany regions usually have more job opportunities even if the cost of living is higher.
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