Despite the unemployment rate in New York state dropping to its lowest level in eight years, the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester labor market lost 1,900 private sector jobs in December, according to the state Department of Labor.
The three-county region added 1,100 jobs in the government sector in December, including 1,000 in local government, resulting in a net loss of 800 jobs, a 0.1 percent drop in employment compared with November.
Jobs in professional and business services in the tri-county area decreased 1.6 percent last month, a loss of 1,200 jobs, while the leisure and hospitality field lost 1,300 jobs, a 2.6 percent drop. The retail trade sector added 1,000 jobs, including 700 department store jobs.
The unemployment rate for the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester market fell to 4.5 percent, a 0.2 percent drop, in December, which also represents a 0.6 percent drop since December 2013. Approximately 2,400 workers dropped out of the workforce in December in the tri-county area.
By county, Putnam’s 4.3 percent unemployment rate was tied for the second-lowest in the state with Long Island’s Nassau County, while Rockland County was tied for fourth statewide with a 4.3 percent unemployment rate. Westchester County’s 4.6 percent unemployment rate, down from 4.8 percent in November, was tied for eighth in New York state with Dutchess County and Suffolk County.
In the seven-county Hudson Valley region, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent, a 0.3 percent decrease, in December, a year-over-year decrease of 0.8 percent. Approximately 4,400 people left the labor force in the Hudson Valley in December, while the region saw a net loss of 1,300 jobs, a 0.1 percent decrease from November. The government sector added 800 jobs, partially offsetting a loss of 2,100 private sector jobs. The jobs lost include 1,200 in the natural resources, mining and construction sector, 1,800 in the professional and business services sector and 1,500 in the leisure and hospitality sector.
Meanwhile, the region”™s trade, transportation, and utilities sector added 2,400 jobs, a 1.3 percent jump, while 200 jobs were gained in manufacturing and other services.
The Labor Department announced the state”™s unemployment rate declined from 5.9 percent to 5.8 percent in December, reaching its lowest level since September 2008, according to preliminary figures. New York state”™s economy has added 535,600 private sector jobs in the past four years and experienced employment growth in 41 of the past 48 months. This period included 22 consecutive months of private sector job growth, according to the Department of Labor.
