The New York State economy added 14,100 private sector jobs in March 2013, according to preliminary figures released today by the State Department of Labor. This job growth resulted in New York reaching an all-time high private sector job count of 7,426,100. 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.

Further, New York State's unemployment rate fell from 8.4% to 8.2% between February 2013 and March 2013. The rate in New York City also decreased over the month from 9.1% to 8.9% while the rate in the balance of state region (New York State outside of New York City) fell from 7.9% to 7.7%. The federal government calculates New York's unemployment rate partly based upon the results of a monthly telephone survey of 3,100 households in the state conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Monthly employment estimates are provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, and are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. After revision, the state's estimated total nonfarm job count for February 2013 was revised upwards by 1,000. As a result, the January-February change in nonfarm jobs showed a gain of 100 rather than a loss of 900. In addition, the state's private sector job count for February was revised upwards by 1,200.

"In March, the New York State economy improved as our seasonally adjusted private sector job count grew by 14,100, or 0.2%, to 7,426,100, an all-time high. In addition, New York State's unemployment rate declined over the month from 8.4% to 8.2%," said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Deputy Director of the Division of Research and Statistics. "This trend of job growth is underscored by the revised numbers for February 2013, which show more strength than originally reported."

Notes: The data above are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data 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, March 2012 versus March 2013.

1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted):

U.S. and New York State, February 2013 - March 2013

The table below compares the over-the-month change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs in the United States and New York State between February 2013 and March 2013.

2) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):

The state's unemployment rate, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is calculated primarily from the results of a telephone survey of 3,100 households in New York State. The statewide rate fell from 8.4% in February to 8.2% in March 2013. In addition, the number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month -- from 806,900 in February 2013 to 784,800 in March 2013.

3) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

U.S., New York State, Major Regions, and Metro Areas: March 2012 - March 2013

The table that follows compares the over-the-year change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs that occurred in the United States, New York State, the Upstate and Downstate regions, and metro areas in the state between March 2012 and March 2013.

Job highlights since March 2012:

• Since March 2012, the number of private sector jobs in the state increased by 97,100, or 1.3%. Over the same time frame, the nation's private sector job count increased by 1.9%.
• In the 10-county Downstate region, private sector jobs grew by 1.7% over the past year.
• In the 52-county Upstate region, the private sector job count grew by 0.5% over the past year.
• Over the past year, private sector jobs grew most rapidly in these metro areas in the state:
  • Kingston (+2.9%)
  • Nassau-Suffolk (+2.1%)
  • Glens Falls (+1.9%)
  • New York City (+1.8%)
  • Ithaca (+1.7%)
• The only metro areas in the state to lose private sector jobs between March 2012 and March 2013 were:
  • Elmira (-1.5%)
  • Binghamton (-0.2%)
  • Utica-Rome (-0.1%)

4) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

Change in jobs by major industry sector, March 2012 - March 2013

The table below compares the over-the-year change in jobs by major industry sector in New York State occurring between March 2012 and March 2013.

Highlights among NYS sectors with job gains since March 2012:

• Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+35,800) of any industry sector over the past year. Sector employment gains were centered in health care and social assistance (+28,500), especially ambulatory health care services (+15,200).
• Professional and business services had the second largest increase in jobs (+32,600) between March 2012 and March 2013. Sector job gains over this period were concentrated in administrative and support services (+20,400), and professional, scientific and technical services (+12,600).

Highlights among NYS sectors with job losses since March 2012:

• Over the past year, government lost more jobs (-17,200) than any other sector in the state. Government sector job losses were concentrated at the local level (-12,900).
• Employment losses in the manufacturing sector (-13,500) were greatest in durable goods (-8,200), especially computer and electronic products (-2,800).

5) Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI), Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) programs:

For New York State, during the week that included March 12, 2013, there were 367,668 people (including 338,125 who live in the state) who received benefits under:

• Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI),
• Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), or
• Federal Extended Benefits (EB) programs.

New York State residents who received Unemployment Insurance benefits made up 43% of the total unemployed in the state in March 2013.

See the table below for the maximum number of weeks available under current federal regulations.

We encourage people to use the Department's online Unemployment Insurance calculator to estimate how many weeks of benefits they may receive. See the calculator on the State Department of Labor's website or go here: http://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/UIBenefitsCalculator.shtm

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, 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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