In September 2020, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 75,300, or 1.0%, to 7,285,400, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. This represents the fifth straight month of job gains for the Empire State. New York’s private sector job growth outpaced the nation’s private sector job growth  — 0.7% in September 2020 — for the third month in a row.

New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 12.5% to 9.7% in September 2020. In September 2020, the number of unemployed New York State residents decreased by 302,000, while labor force levels decreased by 362,900. 

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.

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, September 2019 versus September 2020.

United States and New York State: August – September 2020

1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted):

The table below compares the month-over-month change in total nonfarm and private sector jobs in the United States 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 September 2020, the statewide unemployment rate decreased from 12.5% to 9.7%. New York City’s unemployment rate decreased over the month from 16.0% to 14.1%. Outside of New York City, the unemployment rate decreased from 10.0% to 6.5%.

The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month by 302,000, from 1,186,700 in August to 884,700 in September 2020.

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

Change in jobs by major industry sector: September 2019 – September 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 September 2019 and September 2020.

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

• Within the leisure and hospitality sector, job losses were greatest in accommodation and food services (-283,400), especially food services and drinking places (-223,100).
• Within the trade, transportation and utilities sector, job losses were focused in retail trade (-91,900), especially clothing and clothing accessories stores (-44,800).
• Within the professional and business services sector, job losses were concentrated in administrative and support services (-97,300) and professional, scientific and technical services (-40,700).

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 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.

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