A companion to the better-known unemployment rate, the employment-to-population ratio is an indicator of people's willingness and ability to find work. In a period of rapid economic growth, a larger share of the population (including teens, second earners in a family, and elders) will be enticed into the workforce.

The employment-to-population ratio for the region was 59% in 2017-21, similar to the state and nation. This was down a bit from 62% in 2000 and equal to 2012-16.

In 2017-21, Genesee County had the highest ratio in the region, at 61%, and Orleans the lowest, at 51%. Monroe County was at 60%, and the City of Rochester, at 56%.

For this indicator, people are counted where they live, not where they work. The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.