In June 2020, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 296,400, or 4.5%, to 6,894,200, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. By way of comparison, the U.S. private sector job count grew by 4.3% in June 2020.

New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 14.5% to 15.7% in June 2020. In June 2020, the number of unemployed New York State residents increased by 154,000, while labor force levels increased by 299,100. The increase in the unemployment rate — despite New York State adding 296,400 private sector jobs — may be explained by a combination of the use of different data sources for the two figures, the use of statistical regression models to determine the unemployment rate, a growing labor force, and the impact of out-of-state workers, among other factors.

The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of 18,000 New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.

United States and New York State: May – June 2020

1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted):

The table below compares the month-over-month change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs in the U.S. and New York State.

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 monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in New York State.

In June 2020, the statewide unemployment rate increased from 14.5% to 15.7%. New York City’s unemployment rate increased over the month from 18.3% to 20.4%. Outside of New York City, the unemployment rate increased from 12.0% to 12.2%.

The number of unemployed New Yorkers increased over the month by 154,000, from 1,318,600 in May to 1,472,600 in June 2020.

United States, New York State and Metro Areas: June 2019 – June 2020

1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):

The following table compares the changes in total nonfarm and private sector jobs occurring in the U.S., New York State and metro areas in the state, between June 2019 and June 2020.

Change in jobs by major industry sector: June 2019 – June 2020

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 2019 – June 2020.

Highlights among New York State sectors with job losses since June 2019:

• Within the leisure and hospitality sector, job losses were greatest in accommodation and food services (-412,900), especially food services and drinking places (-348,300).
• Within the trade, transportation and utilities sector, job losses were focused in retail trade (-157,500), especially clothing and accessories stores (-64,700).
• Within the professional and business services sector, job losses were concentrated in administrative and support services (-123,900) and professional, scientific and technical services (-46,300).
• Within the educational and health services sector, most job losses occurred in health care and social assistance (-134,900), especially ambulatory health care (-59,800).

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 April 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 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.

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.

See State and Area Job Data (opens in new window)
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See Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet (opens in new window)