Which NYS county has the lowest unemployment rate right now?
I'm thinking about relocating within New York state for better job opportunities and I'm curious which county currently has the lowest unemployment rate. I've been on unemployment for 6 months now and my benefits are running out soon. I know I need to keep filing my weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor but I'm getting desperate to find work. Does anyone know where the job market is strongest in NY right now? I'm willing to move anywhere in the state if it means better chances of finding employment.
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NeonNomad
Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Tompkins County (Ithaca area) typically has one of the lowest unemployment rates in NY, usually around 2.8-3.2%. Nassau and Westchester counties also tend to have lower rates, around 3.0-3.5%. However, cost of living is much higher in those areas. You should also check the NYS Department of Labor's regional employment statistics on their website - they update monthly with county-by-county breakdowns.
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Giovanni Ricci
•Thanks! I hadn't thought about Tompkins County. Do you know if they have good opportunities for someone with retail management experience?
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
i think albany area is pretty good too because of all the state jobs. when i was looking last year the capital region had decent numbers
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Dylan Mitchell
If you're willing to relocate, make sure you update your address with NYS Department of Labor when you move. You'll need to continue filing your weekly claims and report your job search activities in the new area. Also, different regions have different job search requirements - some areas require more contacts per week than others. Check with your local One-Stop Career Center in whatever county you're considering.
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Sofia Martinez
•Wait, the job search requirements change by county? I thought it was the same statewide for NYS Department of Labor claims.
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Dylan Mitchell
•The basic requirements are statewide, but some local workforce development boards have additional expectations for certain programs. It's always good to check with the local office.
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Dmitry Volkov
I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about transferring my claim when I moved counties. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Someone on here recommended trying Claimyr (claimyr.com) to help get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It actually helped me connect with someone at NYS Department of Labor who could answer my questions about maintaining benefits during relocation.
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Giovanni Ricci
•Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Did they charge you anything to help with the call?
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Dmitry Volkov
•They focus on just helping you get connected rather than charging high fees. The main thing is it saved me hours of trying to call NYS Department of Labor myself.
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Ava Thompson
From what I've seen, the unemployment rates can be misleading though. Like yeah Nassau County might have low unemployment but good luck affording rent there on unemployment benefits! You might want to look at job growth rates too, not just current unemployment numbers.
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CyberSiren
Same boat here! Been filing weekly claims for 4 months and starting to panic about finding something soon. Let me know what you find out about the best areas.
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