Lower Hudson Valley job growth accelerates

New York state added just 5,900 nonfarm jobs in May, as the state”™s unemployment rate trickled up to 8.6 percent from 8.5 percent in April.

The private sector has recovered all of the jobs that were lost during the recession, the state Department of Labor reported today. In May, private sector employers added 6,100 jobs, for a total of 336,900 jobs added since November 2009.

The state”™s workforce expanded by 28,000 in May, possible contributing to the increased unemployment rate, Labor Department analysts said. The labor force represents the total of all residents who are employed and all those who are actively seeking employment.

Private sector employment increased by 136,300 statewide compared to May 2011, representing a 1.9 percent year-over-year increase.

In the region comprising Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, private sector employment increased at a rate of 1.6 percent compared to May 2011, with the private sector adding 7,700 jobs over the last 12 months.

Among the strongest industries in the three-county region over the last year were financial activities, professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. Each of the latter four industries showed annual employment increases of at least 2.4 percent, and the four collectively accounted for 9,200 new jobs.

The job market was hurt by sweeping cuts in the construction and manufacturing sectors. In the three-county region, the natural resources, mining and construction sector contracted by 2,000 jobs, or 6.5 percent, over the past year, while manufacturers cut 700 positions, representing a 2.8 percent contraction compared to May 2011.