News from New York State Department of Labor

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NYS Private Sector Job Growth Matches U.S. In September

ALBANY, NY (10/18/2007; 1343)(readMedia)-- New York State’s private sector job count increased over the month by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, to 7,217,400 (seasonally adjusted) in September 2007, the State Labor Department reported today. Since the beginning of New York’s current economic expansion in August 2003, the state has added 313,600 private sector jobs.

New York State’s unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, decreased from 4.9 percent in August 2007 to 4.6 percent in September 2007. New York City’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also decreased, going from 5.7 percent in August 2007 to 5.1 percent in September 2007. The rate in the balance of the state outside New York City decreased from 4.3 percent in August 2007 to 4.2 percent in September 2007.

“In September 2007, the seasonally adjusted private sector job count in New York State grew over the month at the same rate as in the nation. In addition, the state’s unemployment rate dropped below the comparable figure for the U.S.,” said Norman Steele, Bureau Chief for Research and Evaluation, Division of Research and Statistics.

Note: When comparing different months, seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid comparison, for example, August 2007 versus September 2007. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, September 2006 versus September 2007.

1) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):

New York State’s unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, was 4.6 percent in September 2007, down from 4.9 percent in August 2007. In September 2006, the state’s rate was 4.3 percent. The nation’s rate was 4.7 percent in September 2007, up from 4.6 percent in August. In September 2006, the nation’s rate was 4.6 percent. In New York City, the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in September 2007, down from 5.7 percent in August. In September 2006, the city’s rate was 4.5 percent. The rate for the balance of the state outside New York City was 4.2 percent in September 2007, down from 4.3 percent in August.

Unemployment Rates (seasonally adjusted)

				September 2007				August 2007				September 2006
New York State				4.6				4.9				4.3
United States				4.7				4.6				4.6
New York City				5.1				5.7				4.5
NYS, excluding NYC				4.2				4.3				4.1

2) Job data (seasonally adjusted):

New York State and the nation, August 2007 - September 2007:

The number of private sector jobs in New York State increased by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, to 7,217,400 in September 2007, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Nationally, the number of private sector jobs increased by 0.1 percent over the same period. After seasonal adjustment, the number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased over the month by 8,400, or 0.1 percent, to 8,714,300 in September 2007. Nationally, the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased over the month by 0.1 percent.

3) Nonfarm jobs since September 2006 (not seasonally adjusted):

Total nonfarm jobs			+67,200
Private sector jobs			+68,800

Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs in New York State increased by 67,200, or 0.8 percent, and the number of private sector jobs increased by 68,800, or 1.0 percent. Nationally, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 1.2 percent and the number of private sector jobs increased by 1.2 percent between September 2006 and September 2007.

Professional and business services added the largest number of jobs (+24,600) over the September 2006-September 2007 period, with all of the increase in professional, scientific, and technical services (+27,700). Employment also increased in educational and health services; construction; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; and other services. Natural resources and mining employment was unchanged over the year.

Manufacturing (-15,900) registered the largest over-the-year drop among declining industries. Manufacturing job losses were mostly in non-durable goods. The over-the-year decline in non-durable goods employment (-13,000) was centered in chemical manufacturing (-4,000) and apparel manufacturing (-3,700). Employment losses in durable goods (-2,900) were centered in machinery manufacturing (-3,000). Employment also declined in information and government.

Industries With Job Gains:
Professional & Business Services	+24,600
Educational & Health Services	+17,000
Construction	+14,000
Financial Activities	+12,500
Leisure & Hospitality	+12,400
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	+6,700
Other Services	+1,300
Industries With Job Losses:
Manufacturing	-15,900
Information	-3,800
Government	-1,600

4. Nonfarm jobs since August 2007 (not seasonally adjusted):

Total nonfarm jobs		+27,200
Private sector jobs		+4,100

In September 2007, New York State had 8,707,700 total nonfarm jobs, including 7,247,000 private sector jobs. From August 2007 to September 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 27,200 and the number of private sector jobs increased by 4,100. On average, in the previous ten years, the number of nonfarm jobs in New York increased by 27,500 from August to September, and the number of private sector jobs increased by 12,200.

The not seasonally adjusted job count increased over the month in educational and health services (+41,400), government (+23,100), trade, transportation and utilities (+7,400), and construction (+700). The job count decreased over the month in leisure and hospitality (-30,100), financial activities (-6,500), information (-3,100), and manufacturing (-2,500), professional and business services (-1,800), other services (-800), and natural resources and mining (-600).

5) New York State nonfarm job highlights since August 2007 (not seasonally adjusted):

Educational and health services

Almost all of the sector’s over-the-month increase was at private colleges and universities, reflecting the employment expansion accompanying the beginning of the academic year.

Government

Government employment increased seasonally due to the start of the school year, with job gains at both local elementary and secondary schools and state educational institutions.

Trade, transportation and utilities

This month’s increase reflected employment gains in transportation and warehousing, in particular private providers of school bus transportation.

Construction

Construction sector employment increased between August and September with staffing increases centered in specialty trade contractors.

Other services

This sector’s over-the-month employment decrease was centered in religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations, particularly civic and social organizations.

Professional and business services

Over-the-month losses were concentrated in administrative and support services, especially employment services.

Manufacturing

Over-the-month sector employment decreases occurred in both non-durable and durable goods manufacturing.

Information

Sector employment losses were centered in publishing industries (except Internet).

Financial activities

Overall sector employment decreased over the month with losses centered in finance and insurance, particularly credit intermediation and related activities.

Leisure and hospitality

Sector employment decreased over the month due to seasonal losses in arts, entertainment, and recreation, specifically amusement, gambling, and recreation industries.

6. Metropolitan Areas:

Job Growth and Unemployment Rates (not seasonally adjusted):

Albany-Schenectady-Troy: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 1,400, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 1,400, or 0.4 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.7 in August and 3.6 in September 2006.

Binghamton: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 300, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 300, or 0.3 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.2 in August and 4.1 in September 2006.

Buffalo-Niagara Falls: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 2,300, or 0.4 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 2,300, or 0.5 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.5 in August and 4.6 in September 2006.

Elmira: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 300, or 0.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 400, or 1.2 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.5 in August and 4.7 in September 2006.

Glens Falls: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 300, or 0.5 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 300, or 0.7 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.5 in August and 3.7 in September 2006.

Ithaca: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 200, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 200, or 0.4 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.4 in August and 3.2 in September 2006.

Kingston: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 1,200, or 1.8 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 1,200, or 2.4 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.2 in August and 3.9 in September 2006.

Nassau-Suffolk: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 5,600, or 0.4 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 5,600, or 0.5 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.9 in August and 3.6 in September 2006.

New York City (five boroughs): Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 48,400, or 1.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 48,000, or 1.5 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in September 2007, compared with 5.8 in August and 4.4 in September 2006.

Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 2,000, or 0.8 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 1,500, or 0.7 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.9 in August and 3.8 in September 2006.

Putnam-Rockland-Westchester: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 5,600, or 1.0 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 4,900, or 1.0 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.6 in August and 3.6 in September 2006.

Rochester: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 1,000, or 0.2 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 300, or 0.1 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.2 in August and 4.1 in September 2006.

Syracuse: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 1,700, or 0.5 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 1,800, or 0.7 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in September 2007, compared with 4.0 in August and 4.2 in September 2006.

Utica-Rome: Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs was unchanged, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 400, or 0.4 percent. The area’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.8 in August and 3.9 in September 2006.

Note: The unemployment rate for New York and every other state is based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job data for New York are obtained from a survey of 18,000 business establishments. Job data exclude agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers and domestic workers in private households.

See State and Area Jobs Data

See State and Area Unemployment Rates

Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet

Labor Market Overview

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