NORWICH – Chenango County’s 8.8 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reported yesterday afternoon for October was the highest seen locally in 19 years.

By comparison, it was higher than the rate reported in each of the five surrounding counties. Broome, Delaware and Cortland counties came in at 8.4 percent unemployment with Madison County at 7.3 percent and Otsego, 6.9 percent.

The State Labor Department reported that New York lost 12,700 private sector jobs in October, edging the rate up to 9.0 percent, the highest reported since April 1983. The number of private sector jobs in New York decreased by 12,700, or 0.2 percent, to 7,055,100.

Chenango County’s rate was unchanged since September, but compares to a 6.1 percent rate in October of 2008. The number of private sector jobs in Chenango County decreased by 400 over the past year, representing a six year low.

Most of the losses over the year were in the manufacturing sector, with 200 fewer workers on the job. Senior Economist Christian Harris said the county could see that number start to level off, however, as Raymond Corporation in Greene begins to absorbs its workforce from the company’s Canadian branch. Raymond previously shed 10 percent of its workforce as the nation’s recession set in last year.

“Obviously Raymond isn’t the only one. There’s quite a lot of manufacturing throughout the area and in the state and the nation that are seeing jobs decline,” Harris said.

The uncertain economy has hit consumer driven sectors such as trade and transportation and hospitality, with both losing 100 jobs locally since October of 2008.