Chautauqua Co. Jobless Rate falls in March...

Chautauqua County's jobless rate last month was at it's lowest point since March of 2008.... but, outdoor activities are still running behind last year due to our harsh Winter.  That from state Labor Department Analyst John Slenker... who says the county's unemployment rate fell from 8.3-percent in February to 7.7-percent last month.  Slenker says the county gained about 400 jobs over the month... mainly in three areas.... service providing industries -- leisure and hospitality, government, and trade.  He says the county lost 100 jobs in manufacturing... and, had other losses in professional and business services... education... and, leisure and hospitality.  He says the figures might have been better if there was better weather sooner in March... as construction kind of lagged.  However... Slenker says it's not a major concern because last Winter -- especially the end -- was mild.  It allowed construction season to get underway early.  Slenker says he expects construction to pick up a lot in April... and, going forward because so many roads, privates drives, and parking lots need work.  He says the 7.7-percent jobless rate for last month was a big improvement over March of 2013... when it was 8.5-percent.

Slenker adds Cattaraugus County Jobless numbers also down in March...

The jobless rate in Cattaraugus County also went down significantly last month.  Labor Department Analyst John Slenker says the unemployment rate fell from 8.3-percent in February to 7.8-percent in March.  Slenker says "normal seasonal trends" were again at play.  But... he says the number of jobs fell by 200.  He says that was mainly in the area of Leisure and Hospitality... as the ski season at the Holiday Valley Resort began winding down.  Slenker adds, though, the industry is still up 200 jobs over the year.  Slenker says manufacturing in Cattaraugus County held steady in the month of March... while construction was down.  He says the unemployment rate was way down from the 9-percent from March of 2013.  This year... Slenker says the number of jobs are up 100 from that point last year.