Cayuga County's June unemployment rate was a full percentage point above prior-year levels, and it reached its highest point for the month since 2003, according to the latest state Department of Labor job market data.

The monthly unemployment rate of 5.1 percent was also higher than the 4.9 percent rate posted for May of this year.

The last time the June rate exceeded the 5-percent threshold was five years ago, when the rate was 5.3 percent.

Cayuga County's weakening job market is actually in better shape than most in New York. The statewide unemployment rate for June was 5.2 percent, up from 4.9 percent in May and 4.4 percent in June 2007.

State labor officials are not optimistic about the situation.

“Most indicators suggest the state's labor market conditions continue to deteriorate,” said Peter A. Neenan, director of the DOL's Division of Research and Statistics, in a press release.

In Cayuga County, the June rate marked the seventh straight month of higher year-over-year unemployment rates.

Cayuga County's labor force, the total number of residents who are either employed or actively seeking a job, grew by 1,000 to 42,600.

Of that total, 40,400 were employed while 2,200 were jobless.

Despite higher jobless rate, the total number of non-farm jobs filled by county employers is up.

The county had 27,500 jobs in June, up 100 from a year earlier and 300 from the previous month.

The annual job gains came from the private sector, as government employment remained flat.

Within the private sector, the manufacturing industry reached 3,900 jobs, up 200 compared with last year. Trade, transportation and utilities also gained 200 jobs.

Industries that saw downturns included financial activities, down by 100 jobs, and the typically strong leisure and hospital category, which also dropped 100 jobs from a year ago.