Region's employment, unemployment both hit highs

PHOTOGRAPHER: James Schlett

The Capital Region’s job count climbed to a record in September, but its unemployment rate for the month also reached a 13-year high, according to statistics released today by the state Department of Labor.

Even as the some of the region’s job growth engines lost steam, its nonfarm workforce over the year grew by 400 jobs to 449,500. During the same period, the unemployment rate rose to 5.2 percent from 3.8 percent. Last month’s rate was up 0.2 points from August and was the highest September rate since 1995.

The government and education and health services sectors — traditionally major local job creation drivers — showed softer growth last month. Over the year, the sectors have added 900 and 100 jobs, respectively. At the same time, losses in the manufacturing and financial activities sectors, which have been bleeding jobs, showed narrower losses. They shrunk by 400 and 300 jobs, respectively.

“We’re seeing a little weakness in our stronger industries and a little strength in our weaker industries,” said James Ross, a Labor Department market analyst.

The professional, scientific and technical services sector continued to offset losses as other job growth engines stalled. Over the year, that sector grew by 1,700 jobs, to 29,600.