According to summer 2025 statistics from the United States Department of Labor’s Labor Market briefing, Western New York currently enjoys a pretty low unemployment rate of 4.1%. That’s lower than the overall 4.6% rate in the United States. However, over the past year, initial unemployment claims in New York State increased the most in Chautauqua County. Compared to NYS’s increase of 3.6%, our county’s rate increased by 175.0%. That leaves many worried about what is causing this and what the future will bring to those of us living and working here.

Plenty of employment challenges are facing both businesses and individuals as they make decisions about the job market today. Issues include the potential impact of tariffs, consequences ensuing from the immigration crackdown, changes that have occurred as fallout from the pandemic, and emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Plus, life is full of surprises. We have to be prepared to face the unexpected, too.

As things currently stand, a low unemployment rate can be great news for people looking for work, depending on the type of work they are seeking. At the same time, it can be exceptionally difficult for businesses seeking workers, especially those needing to fill positions in in-demand occupations. Some employers are anxiously watching the immigration crackdown, worried they may not be able to hire or retain enough qualified staff to adequately care for their clients, customers, or patients, or to achieve their production goals.

Some industries may be impacted particularly hard, like farmers and construction, in some areas. This is compounding the shortages plenty of employers were already facing because not enough young people or adult career changers are pursuing jobs in fields that are growing and already having difficulty finding enough skilled workers, like in the health care industry.

We can help in a multitude of ways.

Young people need to be encouraged to spend more time thinking through how they will use their education before they decide whether or not to enroll in post-high-school educational programs. In past job markets, advanced college degrees were seen as necessary to achieve the highest incomes. Depending on the field, that can still hold true, but in some cases, young people today might earn more over their lifetimes by pursuing work in trades that only require 2-year degrees, completion of shorter-term certificate programs, or hands-on on-the-job apprenticeships. Sadly, there are plenty of PhDs working at minimum wage jobs, depending on their specialization. It pays to study the job market before deciding what career path to pursue. This is true for those making a midlife career shift as well.

We also need to encourage and support local educational institutions as they respond and adjust their programming to meet the needs of the changing job market.

A lot of occupations currently in high demand across the US appear to be in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. These include roles like nurse, personal care professional, medical and health services manager, data scientist, software developer, and information security analyst. There also appears to be an increasing need for skilled tradespeople, like electricians and mechanics, as well as for truck drivers.

Changes with the potential to swiftly alter our lives seem to be coming at a faster and faster pace. Inevitably, they will impact employer and employee choices, as well as the offerings of our educational institutions.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s Local Economic Development Committee believes we all need to understand and support those making adjustments to their expectations and future planning to meet the needs of a changing employment market. The best way to not only stay economically strong but also to grow and improve our personal and community economic status is by being flexible and willing to make adjustments.

Patty Hammond is Economic Development Coordinator at the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. The Local Economic Development (LED) Initiative is a standing committee of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF). Send comments or suggestions to Patty Hammond at phammond@nccfoundation.org