Despite slight declines in unemployment from June, the seven-county Hudson Valley region in July had its largest over-the-year loss of private sector jobs since 1991.
State Department of Labor officials said private sector jobs decreased by 17,900, or 2.3 percent, to 745,100 between July 2008 and July 2009. The largest losses occurred in trade, transportation and utilities, with 5,500 fewer jobs; professional and business services, down 4,200; manufacturing, down 4,100; leisure and hospitality, down 2,700; natural resources, mining and construction, down 2,100; financial activities, with 1,900 jobs shed, and information, down 900 jobs.
Government jobs also declined by 400 over the year. Employment gains were concentrated in educational and health services, with 3,700 added jobs.
The July jobless rate for the region increased to 7.6 percent from 5.2 percent a year ago, also the largest July over-the-year increase on record since 1991, said state labor market analyst Johny Nelson in White Plains. Employment in the region did rebound slightly from June, when the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent.
Statewide unemployment was unchanged from June to July at 8.6 percent, 3.1 percent higher than unemployment in the state in July 2008. The national unemployment rate also was unchanged from June to July at 9.7 percent, up from 6 percent in July 2008.
Unemployment in Westchester County was 7.3 percent in July, compared to 7.5 percent in June and 5 percent in July 2008.
Elsewhere in the Hudson Valley region, July unemployment rates were:
- Putnam County, 6.9 percent, compared to 7 percent in June and 4.7 percent in July 2008;
- Rockland County, 7.4 percent, unchanged from June and up from 5.2 percent a year ago;
- Dutchess County, 8 percent, compared to 8.1 percent in June and 5.4 percent in July 2008;
- Orange County, 8.3 percent, compared to 8.4 percent in June and 5.6 percent a year ago;
- Ulster County, 8.1 percent, compared to 8.2 percent in June and 5.7 percent in July 2008; and
- Sullivan County, 7.9 percent, compared to 8.8 percent in June and 5.9 percent in July 2008.
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