Job numbers hit all-time high
The state”™s private sector job count reached an all-time high in March, with unemployment declining broadly but not universally.
Regional data echoed state figures.
Utilities, transportation, health care and teaching witnessed job growth.
But government, construction and manufacturing continue their anemic jobs picture and according to a White Plains staffing company, the Affordable Care Act”™s full reckoning poses a hiring question mark.
According to figures released by the state Department of Labor, New York added 14,100 private sector jobs in March, with a total private sector job count of 7,426,100.
The state”™s unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent, down from 8.8 percent last month. Westchester posted an unemployment rate of 6.8 percent; Putnam was at 6.3 percent; and Rockland 6.4 percent, among the lowest rates in the state.
All three counties saw improvement: Westchester”™s unemployment rate decreased from 7.2 percent for all last year, Putnam from 6.6 percent last year, and Rockland from 6.8 percent.
Putnam, Rockland and Westchester have a combined unemployment rate of 6.7 percent, down from 7.5 in February and down from 7 percent for all last year. The region has a lower unemployment rate than the state and the U.S, which both hover at 7.6 percent. The three-county region”™s unemployment rate is second among metropolitan regions, behind Ithaca, 5.3 percent.
The seven-county Hudson Valley region, which also includes Sullivan, Ulster, Orange and Dutchess counties, has an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent.
From February to March, the three counties added 5,000 jobs, a 1.1 percent increase to the total employed number of 469,100.
Trade, transportation and utilities in the three counties gained 1,900 jobs over the past year, a .8 percent increase and 400 jobs over the past month, a .4 percent increase. Professional and business services added 3,200 jobs over the past year, a 4.5 percent increase and 2,100 jobs over the past month, a 2.9 increase.
Education and health services added 1,100 jobs over the past year, a 0.9 percent increase and 200 jobs over the past month.
Over the past year, construction shed 1,000 jobs, a 3.5 percent decrease, while manufacturing shed 800 jobs, a 3.2 percent decrease jobs. The two industries were flat month to month.
The public sector continues to decrease, with government jobs decreasing by 900 over the past year, a 1 percent decrease and 300 over the past month, a 0.3 percent decrease.
The region”™s job growth rate continues to lag behind the rest of the state, ranking ninth of 14 metropolitan regions.
Staffing companies have seen firsthand the improved job market in the region. Richard Greenwald, president of Concorde Staffing Group in White Plains, said business has been increasing. Overall, he noticed businesses are hiring more full-time employees
“We are seeing a significant jump in terms of companies inquiring about other people,” Greenwald said. “Things are moving in the right direction. Hopefully the trend will continue.”
Despite seeing growth, Greenwald does not think the job market will return to pre-recession levels.
“If a company laid off 10 to 15 employees, they might hire five people back,” Greenwald said. “They”™ve been able to go without those employees for so long, they have become more efficient.
Greenwald said businesses still do not know how the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect this year, will impact them.
“I”™m not against health care or health care laws, but what will that to do hiring?” Greenwald said. “It could affect mid-size businesses tremendously. No one really knows what has to be done. That makes me the most nervous.”