The Buffalo metropolitan area picked up 1,200 private-sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, in June compared to a year ago and the unemployment rate fell by nearly 1 full point.


The area labor market, counting Erie and Niagara counties, added 2,400 jobs, or 0.4 percent, in the year-over-year period.


The monthly state Department of Labor report showed unemployment declined to 7.7 percent from 8.5 percent in June 2009.


The state, however, lost 8,500 private-sector jobs, down 0.1 percent in June, on a seasonally adjusted basis. This was the state’s second straight monthly decline in private sector jobs. The total nonfarm job count statewide decreased by 22,500, or 0.3 percent, last month. This labor department said the decline was due in large part to a sharp drop in federal jobs, down 10,100, because many temporary U.S. Census workers left the payroll.