The unemployment rate in New York state dropped to 6 percent in October, the lowest rate in six years, according to preliminary data from the state Department of Labor released Thursday.
The statewide unemployment rate continued to trend downward, from 6.2 percent in September and from 7.2 percent a year ago. New York”™s unemployment rate remains slightly above the national rate of 5.8 percent, according to the preliminary data.
New York City”™s rate was 6.4 percent, down from 6.8 percent in September and 8.4 percent a year ago. If the city numbers were removed from the statewide statistics, the unemployment rate would drop to 5.7 percent in October 2014.
Despite the decrease in the unemployment rate, the private sector job count dropped by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, in October. Nationally, the private sector job count grew 209,000, or 0.2 percent.
From October 2013 to October of this year, there was an increase of 106,500, or 1.2 percent, total nonfarm jobs. Private sector job growth was 110,000, or 1.5 percent, in that time, according to the labor department. Growth in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester for total nonfarm jobs was 700, or 0.1 percent, while total private sector job growth was 2,300, or 0.5 percent.
Over the year prior to October 2014, the industries with the largest gains were professional and business services and private sector education and health services, which added 33,300 and 30,900 jobs, respectively. The leisure and hospitality industry and trade, transportation and utilities rounded out the top four, adding 23,600 and 18,500 jobs, respectively.
The sectors with the largest losses were manufacturing, which lost 9,100 jobs, and government, which lost 3,500 jobs.
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