Employment growth in the Hudson Valley continues to be a bright spot in New York, with the addition of 12,500 nonfarm jobs in April, according to figures released by the state Department of Labor.
Data for the past year show that job growth in the state has been concentrated in and close to New York City. Nearly 100,000 jobs were added in the city, for a 1-year growth rate of 2.4 percent. Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties followed with 16,100 jobs and a 2.3 percent growth rate.
Including Long Island and the rest of the Hudson Valley, the region accounted for 133,600 new jobs in the past 12 months. That”™s 12,300 more than the statewide gain of 121,300. In short, job growth in the region more than offset low growth and job losses in the rest of the state.
The 7-county Hudson Valley had an estimated 942,800 jobs as of April.
The strongest growth in the region over the past year has been in educational and health services with 6,600 new jobs; followed by natural resources, mining and construction with 6,300; other services, 2,900; trade, transportation and utilities with 2,200; government with 1,500; and professional and business services with 1,400.
Job losses were centered in leisure and hospitality, with 1,000 fewer positions.
The statewide unemployment rate in April, based on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of 3,100 households, was 4.9 percent. It was 4.8 percent in March, but remains below the national rate of 5.0 percent.
The job numbers are estimates based on a BLS payroll survey of 18,000 employees. The Hudson Valley region includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.
