In March 2016, New York State’s private sector job count increased by 12,800, or 0.2 percent, last month to 7,893,700, a new record high, according to preliminary figures released 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 799,400 private sector jobs and experienced employment growth in 55 of the past 63 months.
The statewide unemployment rate was unchanged from February’s level of 4.8 percent, and remained below the comparable U.S. rate of five percent in March 2016.
New York’s unemployment rate continues at its lowest level since November 2007.
“The State’s labor market continued to strengthen in March 2016. Not only did New York State’s private sector job count reach a new record high, but our unemployment rate remained at its lowest level in more than eight years,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Deputy Director of the Division of Research and Statistics.
Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+43,200) of any major industry sector over the past year. Sector job gains were mostly in health care and social assistance (+43,600), especially ambulatory health care services (+18,000).
The second largest employment increase over the past year occurred in professional and business services (+27,700), with sector gains centered in professional, scientific and technical services (+15,700) and administrative and support services (+12,800).
Leisure and hospitality had the third largest increase in jobs (+15,100) between March 2015 and March 2016.
Over the past year, sector job gains were mostly in accommodation and food services (+18,800), especially food services and drinking places (+20,600).
Over the past 12 months, manufacturing lost the most jobs (-1,000) of any major industry sector in New York.
Job losses were focused in durable goods (-2,100), especially fabricated metal products (-3,200).
