New York's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in May, up from 7.7 percent in April. State labor officials say that's the highest level since February 1993.
For New York City, May's rate was 8.7 percent, an increase from 7.8 in April 2009 and a significant jump from 4.8 percent in May 2008.
The highest rate outside New York City -- 9.7 percent -- was in Steuben County.
The lowest unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in Tompkins County.
The labor department's Peter Neenan said in a release Thursday that while New York remains in recessionary mode, it remains below the national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent for May.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
