Cayuga County's job market, like the rest of New York state, continued to slump in October, the latest figures from the state Department of Labor show.

The county's monthly unemployment rate of 5.6 percent marked a 13-year high for October. It was also substantially higher than the 3.8 percent rate posted in October 2007. The county's September jobless rate was 5.7 percent. The state data were not adjusted to reflect normal changes in seasonal employment.

The statewide seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate hit 5.5 percent in October, up from 4.4 percent a year earlier and down from 5.6 a month earlier. New York lost 13,900 jobs compared with a year earlier.

For Cayuga County, October marked the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year unemployment rate increases.

Employers reported 26,600 total jobs in the county, a decrease of 300 from October 2007. The private sector job market decreased by 200 jobs while there were 100 fewer government jobs reported. Within specific industries, Cayuga County's manufacturing saw the biggest decline, with 200 fewer jobs. The leisure and hospitality industry and the professional and business services industry each posted gains of 100 jobs.

Cayuga County's labor force, which includes county residents who work within and outside the county, had 2,300 unemployed people in October, an increase of 800 from a year earlier.