At least by one key measure, Cayuga County's economy does not appear immune to the statewide and national slowdown.

The latest unemployment data from the state Department of Labor shows Cayuga County's unemployment reaching 5.9 percent in January, well above the level for the same month a year ago. In January 2007, the county's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, and in December 2007, it was 5 percent.

Cayuga County's jobless rate exceeded the state average, which was 5.6 percent in January. The state released its January employment data on Thursday.

The county's unemployment rate appears to be stemming from an increase people who live in the county but work out-

side of it. That's because the state's total count of jobs for Cayuga County employers was stable from January 2007 to January 2008, at 25,700 jobs.

Unemployment data reflect the status of county residents no matter where they live. The total number of unemployed in the county went from 2,200 to 2,400 people year over year.