News from New York State Department of Labor

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State Economy Adds Jobs for the First Time in Five Months

Other Indicators Point to Slowing Economic Conditions

ALBANY, NY (07/17/2008; 1230)(readMedia)-- New York State's private sector employment increased over the month by 4,200, or 0.1 percent, to 7,259,900 (seasonally adjusted) in June 2008, the State Labor Department reported today. This was the first monthly increase in the state's seasonally adjusted private sector job count since January 2008.

New York State's unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, increased from 5.2 percent in May to 5.3 percent in June 2008, its highest level since December 2004 (when it was 5.4 percent). New York City's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, up from 5.2 percent in May. The rate in the balance of the state outside New York City was 5.3 percent in June 2008, unchanged from May's level.

"Despite the fact that New York State has experienced its first private sector job gain since January 2008, most indicators suggest that the state's labor market conditions continue to deteriorate. The rate of over-the-year private sector job growth has decelerated -- from 1.5 percent in the first half of 2007 to 0.7 percent in the first half of 2008. In addition, the statewide unemployment rate in June 2008 reached its highest level since December 2004," said Peter A. Neenan, director of the Division of Research and Statistics.

Note: When comparing different months, seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid comparison, for example, May 2008 versus June 2008. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, June 2007 versus June 2008.

1) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):

New York State's unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, was 5.3 percent in June 2008, up from 5.2 percent in May. In June 2007, the state's rate was 4.6 percent. The U.S. rate was 5.5 percent in June 2008, unchanged from May's level. In June 2007, the nation's rate was 4.6 percent. In New York City, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, up from 5.2 percent in May. In June 2007, the city's rate was 5.2 percent. The rate for the balance of the state outside New York City was 5.3 percent in June 2008, unchanged from May. In June 2007, the balance of state's rate was 4.2 percent.

Unemployment Rates (seasonally adjusted):

	June 2008	May 2008	June 2007
New York State	5.3	5.2	4.6
United States	5.5	5.5	4.6
New York City	5.4	5.2	5.2
NYS, excluding NYC	5.3	5.3	4.2

2) Job data (seasonally adjusted):

New York State and the nation, May 2008 - June 2008:

The number of private sector jobs in New York State increased by 4,200, or 0.1 percent, to 7,259,900 in June 2008, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Nationally, the number of private sector jobs decreased by 0.1 percent over the same period. After seasonal adjustment, the number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased over the month by 7,300, or 0.1 percent, to 8,777,000 in June 2008. Nationally, the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs decreased by less than 0.1 percent.

3) Nonfarm jobs since June 2007 (not seasonally adjusted):

Total nonfarm jobs	+30,100
Private sector jobs	+12,900

Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs (private plus public) in New York State increased by 30,100, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs increased by 12,900, or 0.2 percent. Nationally, the number of nonfarm jobs decreased by 0.1 percent and the number of private sector jobs decreased by 0.4 percent between June 2007 and June 2008.

Educational and health services added the largest number of private sector jobs (+33,400) over the June 2007-June 2008 period, with most of the increase in health care and social assistance (+23,900). The job count also increased over the year in: government; leisure and hospitality; professional and business services; other services; information; and natural resources and mining.

Looking over the year, manufacturing (-17,900) registered the largest drop among declining industries. Manufacturing job losses were centered in non-durable goods (-10,600) with the largest non-durable declines in apparel manufacturing (-3,500) and chemical manufacturing (-3,300). Employment losses in durable goods (-7,300) were focused in transportation equipment manufacturing (-1,900). Employment also decreased over the year in: financial activities; construction; and trade, transportation and utilities.

Industries With Job Gains:
Educational & Health Services	+33,400
Government	+17,200
Leisure & Hospitality	+7,400
Professional & Business Services	+2,300
Other Services	+2,200
Information	+1,900
Natural Resources & Mining	+100
Industries With Job Losses:
Manufacturing	-17,900
Financial Activities	-10,300
Construction	-3,100
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	-3,100

4) Nonfarm jobs since May 2008 (not seasonally adjusted):

Total nonfarm jobs	+53,500
Private sector jobs	+51,900

In June 2008, New York State had 8,868,000 total nonfarm jobs, including 7,333,200 private sector jobs. From May 2008 to June 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 53,500 and the number of private sector jobs increased by 51,900. On average, in the previous ten years, the number of nonfarm jobs in New York increased by 45,100 from May to June, and the number of private sector jobs increased by 53,400.

The not seasonally adjusted job count increased over the month in leisure and hospitality (+26,700), professional and business services (+19,100), trade, transportation and utilities (+18,300), construction (+9,000), financial activities (+5,200), manufacturing (+3,100), information (+2,800), other services (+1,700), government (+1,600), and natural resources and mining (+200). The job count decreased over the month in educational and health services (-34,200).

5) New York State nonfarm job highlights since May 2008 (not seasonally adjusted):

Leisure and hospitality

Sector employment increased seasonally in June, with gains almost evenly split between arts, entertainment, and recreation and accommodation and food services.

Professional and business services

Over-the-month hiring was concentrated in professional, scientific, and technical services.

Trade, transportation and utilities

Employment gains were centered in retail trade, especially food and beverage stores.

Construction

Construction experienced its typical May-June expansion in employment, with all sector components, especially specialty trade contractors, adding jobs.

Financial activities

Financial activities employment increased over the month, with gains concentrated in real estate and rental and leasing.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing job count rose over the month due to gains in both durable goods and non-durable goods industries.

Information

Motion picture and sound recording was the largest contributor to June's gain in sector employment.

Other services

Other services employment increased over the month, with personal and laundry services accounting for most of the sector's gain in June.

Government

Over-the-month job gains at the local government level more than offset declines at the federal and state levels.

Natural resources and mining

Natural resources and mining experienced its typical May-June seasonal employment increase.

Educational and health services

A seasonal decline in educational services employment, reflecting the end of the school year for many private colleges and universities, overshadowed a small gain in health care and social assistance.

6) Metropolitan Areas:

Job Growth and Unemployment Rates (not seasonally adjusted):

Albany-Schenectady-Troy: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 100, or less than 0.1 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 300, or 0.1 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in June 2008, compared with 4.8 in May and 3.9 in June 2007.

Binghamton: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 400, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 300, or 0.3 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.1 in May and 4.3 in June 2007.

Buffalo-Niagara Falls: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 3,800, or 0.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 1,300 or 0.3 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.8 in May and 4.5 in June 2007.

Glens Falls: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 800, or 1.4 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 1,200, or 2.6 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.1 in May and 3.7 in June 2007.

Ithaca: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 200, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 300, or 0.6 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in June 2008, compared with 3.9 in May and 3.7 in June 2007.

Kingston: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 100 or 0.2 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 300, or 0.6 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.1 in May and 4.2 in June 2007.

Nassau-Suffolk: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 6,700, or 0.5 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 2,400, or 0.2 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in June 2008, compared with 4.6 in May and 3.6 in June 2007.

New York City (five boroughs): Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 23,900, or 0.6 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 20,700, or 0.6 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in June 2008, compared with 4.8 in May and 5.0 in June 2007.

Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 500, or 0.2 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 900, or 0.4 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.1 in May and 4.1 in June 2007.

Putnam-Rockland-Westchester: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 2,500, or 0.4 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 2,000, or 0.4 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in June 2008, compared with 4.6 in May and 3.6 in June 2007.

Rochester: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 3,100, or 0.6 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 3,800, or 0.9 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.3 in May and 4.3 in June 2007.

Syracuse: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has increased by 600, or 0.2 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has increased by 200, or 0.1 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.2 in May and 4.3 in June 2007.

Utica-Rome: Since June 2007, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 400, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 1,000, or 1.0 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in June 2008, compared with 5.2 in May and 4.0 in June 2007.

Note: 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. Jobs data for New York are obtained from a survey of 18,000 business establishments. Jobs 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