New York Posts 6th Month Of Job Gains

The unemployment rate in New York was 9.6 percent in October, continuing its gradual climb from the coronavirus pandemic-caused deep drop when the jobless rate hit 15.9 percent in July.

State officials were also encouraged that the number of private sector jobs in New York increased over the month, by 45,600, or 0.6 percent, to 7,340,300, according to preliminary figures released by the New York State Department of Labor. It may be slight but it still represents the sixth straight month of job gains since the height of the outbreak.

Still, the effect of the coronavirus in Hudson Valley was evident in the year-over-year numbers of private sector jobs from October 2019 to 2020: down 9.4 percent in the Dutchess-Putnam metro area, 5.3 percent in Kingston and 10 percent in Orange-Rockland-Westchester.

Every major industry sector in New York showed a year-over-year decline in jobs:

• Leisure & Hospitality: -329,100
• Trade, Transportation & Utilities: -161,200
• Educational & Health Services: -153,200
• Professional & Business Services: -147,400
• Other Services: -55,100
• Financial Activities: -41,400
• Government: -39,700
• Manufacturing: -39,200
• Construction: -31,300
• Information: -9,200
• Natural Resources & Mining: -800

In an effort to help Hudson Valley residents who are unemployed or underemployed, the state of New York launched a new free online training platform last week designed to help all residents by giving them the opportunity to learn new skills, earn certificates and advance their careers at no cost.

The new tool will provide access to about 4,000 online programs taught by leading professors and industry professionals, with a focus on high-growth and in-demand sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology and health care.

New Yorkers can get a free account and find out more about course offerings through this state website. The full catalog can be seen here.

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. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey of about 3,100 households.