In December 2018, the number of private sector jobs in New York State grew by 11,600, or 0.1%, to 8,243,700, a new, all-time high, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. Since the beginning of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, New York State’s economy has added 1,149,600 private sector jobs and experienced employment growth in 83 of the past 96 months.

The statewide unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9% in December 2018, remaining at its lowest level on record (current records date back to 1976). In addition, the number of unemployed New Yorkers fell in December from 379,400 to 378,500, its lowest level since August 1988. At the same time, New York’s labor force grew by 24,400 to 9,781,500, a new high for the state.

The State’s private sector job count is based on a payroll survey of 18,000 New York employers conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more data become available the following month. The federal government calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.

“New York State’s labor market continued to expand in December 2018 as it reached a new, all-time high private sector job count, while the statewide unemployment rate remained at its lowest level on record and the labor force reached a new high for the state as well,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Director of the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, December 2017 versus December 2018.

United States and New York State: November – December 2018

1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted):

The table below compares the over-the-month change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs in the United States and New York State in November-December 2018.

2) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):

The State’s unemployment rate is calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, using a statistical regression model that primarily uses the results of the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.

In December 2018, the statewide unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9%, its lowest level on record. In addition, New York City’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.0% in December 2018, also a record low. Outside of New York City, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%, remaining at its lowest level since May 2001.

United States, New York State and Metro Areas: December 2017 – December 2018

1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

The following table compares the over-the-year changes in total nonfarm and private sector jobs occurring in the United States, New York State and metro areas within the State between December 2017 and December 2018.

Job highlights since December 2017:

• Thirteen metro areas in New York State added private sector jobs over the past year. The most rapid employment growth was in these metro areas:
  • Ithaca (+4.0%)
  • Dutchess-Putnam (+2.2%)
  • Kingston (+2.1%)
  • Glens Falls (+2.0%)
  • New York City (+1.8%)
  • Nassau-Suffolk (+1.8%)
• Non-metro counties in New York added 2,500 private sector jobs over the past year.
• Over the past 12 months, two metro areas in New York State lost private sector jobs: Elmira (-1.6%) and Watertown-Fort Drum (-0.3%).

Change in jobs by major industry sector: December 2017 – December 2018

1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

The table below compares the over-the-year change in jobs by major industry sector in New York State occurring between December 2017 and December 2018.

Highlights among New York State sectors with job gains since December 2017:

• Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+62,600) of any major industry sector over the past year. Sector job gains were mostly in health care and social assistance (+58,600), especially ambulatory health care (+39,000).
• From December 2017 to December 2018, the second largest employment increase occurred in leisure and hospitality (+15,500). Most of the over-the-year job gains in this sector were in accommodation and food services (+12,000), especially food services and drinking places (+10,300).
• The third largest increase in jobs over the past 12 months occurred in construction, which saw its employment count grow by 14,500. Sector employment gains were largest in specialty trade contractors (+8,700) and construction of buildings (+3,400).
• Professional and business services had the fourth largest increase in jobs (+13,800) between December 2017 and December 2018. Over-the-year sector gains were greatest in administrative and support services (+8,700) and professional, scientific and technical services (+7,200).

Highlights among New York State sectors with job losses since December 2017:

• Over the past 12 months, information lost the most jobs (-3,000) of any major industry sector in New York State. Sector job losses were focused in publishing (-2,400).
• From December 2017 to December 2018, the second largest employment decrease occurred in financial activities, which lost 1,700 jobs. Over-the-year losses were focused in finance and insurance (-5,300), especially insurance carriers and related activities (-3,400).

Unemployment Insurance Benefits: December 2018

1) Regular Unemployment Insurance:

For New York State, during the week that included December 5, 2018, there were 110,590 people (including 101,206 who live in the State) who received benefits under the regular Unemployment Insurance program.

In December 2018, New York State residents who received Unemployment Insurance benefits made up 27% of the total unemployed.

Note: The responsibility for the production of monthly estimates of state and metro area nonfarm employment by industry moved from the Division of Research and Statistics to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), starting with the March 2011 estimates. More detailed information on the change is available on the BLS web site.

Many economic data series have a seasonal pattern, which means they tend to occur at the same time each year (e.g., retail jobs usually increase in December). Seasonal adjustment is the process of removing seasonal effects from a data series. This is done to simplify the data so that they may be more easily interpreted and help to reveal true underlying trends. Seasonal adjustment permits comparisons of data from one month to data from any other month.

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of 18,000 business establishments. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers or domestic workers in private households.

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