The number of private sector jobs in New York State grew by 6,400, or 0.1%, to 8,285,300 in June 2019, 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 1,187,200 private sector jobs.

In June 2019, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0% for the second consecutive month. In addition, the number of unemployed New York State residents dipped slightly over the month, from 382,500 to 379,200. In the first half of this year, the jobless rate in New York State is down 0.4 percentage points and the number of unemployed New Yorkers has dropped by almost 35,000 compared to the same period in 2018.

“In June 2019, the New York State economy added 6,400 private sector jobs. In addition, the statewide unemployment rate held steady at 4.0% in June,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Director of the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics.

United States and New York State: May – June 2019

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 May-June 2019.

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 from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.

In June 2019, the statewide unemployment rate was unchanged, remaining at 4.0%. The unemployment rates remained unchanged in New York City at 4.3% and outside of New York City at 3.7% in June 2019.

United States, New York State and Metro Areas: June 2018 – June 2019

1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

The following table compares the changes in total nonfarm and private sector jobs occurring in the United States, New York State and metro areas within the State, between June 2018 and June 2019.

Job highlights since June 2018:

• Nine metro areas in New York State added private sector jobs since June 2018. The most rapid growth was in these metro areas:
  • Kingston (+3.0%)
  • Ithaca (+2.6%)
  • Syracuse (+2.6%)
  • New York City (+2.4%)
  • Dutchess-Putnam (+1.9%)
  • Buffalo-Niagara Falls (+1.1%)
• Non-metro counties in New York added 2,700 private sector jobs over the past year.
• Over the past 12 months, three metro areas in New York State lost private sector jobs: Glens Falls (-0.8%), Orange-Rockland-Westchester (-0.2%) and Utica-Rome (-0.2%).

Change in jobs by major industry sector: June 2018 – June 2019

1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

The table below compares the change in jobs by major industry sector in New York State occurring between June 2018 and June 2019.

Highlights among New York State sectors with job gains since June 2018:

• Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+71,600) of any major industry sector over the past year. Sector job gains were mostly in health care and social assistance (+61,600), especially ambulatory health care (+40,300).
• Over the past year, two industry sectors – leisure and hospitality and trade, transportation and utilities – each added 10,400 jobs. Employment gains in leisure and hospitality were greatest in arts, entertainment and recreation (+6,800), while job gains in trade, transportation and utilities were largest in retail trade (+9,900).
• Government had the fourth largest over-the-year gain in jobs (+9,100). Sector gains were greatest in local government (+7,800), especially elementary and secondary schools (+5,300).

Highlights among New York State sectors with job losses since June 2018:

• Over the past year, financial activities lost the most jobs (-4,600) of any major industry sector in the state. Sector job losses occurred in both finance and insurance (-2,900) and real estate, rental and leasing (-1,700).

Unemployment Insurance Benefits: June 2019

1) Regular Unemployment Insurance:

For New York State, during the week that included June 12, 2019, there were 94,130 people (including 85,010 who live in the state) who received benefits under the regular Unemployment Insurance program.

In June 2019, New York State residents who received Unemployment Insurance benefits made up 22% 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 NYS Department of Labor’s 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 website.

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 June 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.

In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of 18,000 business establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are preliminary and subject to revision. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers or domestic workers in private households.

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. The state’s unemployment rate is based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York each month.

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See Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet (opens in new window)