Erie, Niagara Counties, N.Y., Unemployment Rates Hit Record Low for August.

Byline: David Robinson

Sep. 15--The unemployment rate in Erie and Niagara counties hit a record low for August, even though a strike by Verizon Inc. workers and a seasonal drop in school workers slowed the region's job growth rate, the state Labor Department said Thursday.

The local jobless rate slipped to an August record low of 4.7 percent from 4.9 percent during July as the region continues to enjoy unusually low unemployment levels.

But the Verizon strike and a summertime dip in the number of school jobs caused the region's job growth rate, which has been lagging well behind the statewide and national growth rates, to slow even further.

…