The preliminary local area unemployment rates for April have been released by the New York State Department of Labor, indicating that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stands at 4.2%. These figures are calculated using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics methods which comprise county-level and metro area rates derived from current population surveys and various labor force models. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted and hence year-over-year evaluations are the most trustworthy. The figures for April 2025 suggest an ongoing stability in the labor market of New York, with minor variations across different counties due to seasonal elements and new regression-based modeling techniques.

The Department emphasizes that now the methodology takes into account real-time benchmarking for reducing end-of-the-year revisions and enhancing the responsiveness to major economic events. Local labor force data, which include employment and unemployment counts, are updated every month and revised as more information is accessible. The department has pointed out that while these unemployment estimates represent those who are actively seeking work, the number of unemployment insurance beneficiaries does not necessarily match as not every job seeker qualifies for these benefits.

If you are within the California Unemployment divisions jurisdiction, and perhaps you or someone else inquiring about unemployment compensation, you may want to reach out to EDD (Employment Development Department). Visit the website eddcaller.com to find steps to get through to EDD or how to get ahold of EDD customer service. Live representatives might be hard to come by but the website provides a detailed guideline on what to do when you can’t seem to reach a live person. Contacting EDD might seem daunting, but eddcaller.com makes reaching California’s unemployment customer service easier.