Job figures steady in Hudson Valley

New York state”™s private-sector job count increased over the month of September by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, to 7,217,400, the state Labor Department reported.

Since August 2003, the state has added 313,600 private-sector jobs.

“In September 2007, the seasonally adjusted private-sector job count in New York state grew over the month at the same rate as in the nation. In addition, the state”™s unemployment rate dropped below the comparable figure for the U.S.,” said Norman Steele, bureau chief for research and evaluation, Division of Research and Statistics.

The state”™s unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in September 2007, down from 4.9 percent in August. In September 2006, it was 4.3 percent.

The nation”™s rate was 4.7 percent in September 2007, up from 4.6 percent in August. In September 2006, it was 4.6 percent.

In New York City, the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in September 2007, down from 5.7 percent in August. In September 2006, the city”™s rate was 4.5 percent. The rate for the balance of the state outside New York City was 4.2 percent in September 2007, down from 4.3 percent in August.

The number of private-sector jobs in the state increased by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, to 7,217,400 in September 2007, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Nationally, the number of private-sector jobs increased by 0.1 percent over the same period. After seasonal adjustment, the number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased over the month by 8,400, or 0.1 percent, to 8,714,300 in September 2007. Nationally, the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased over the month by 0.1 percent.

Since September 2006, the number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 67,200, or 0.8 percent, and the number of private-sector jobs increased by 68,800, or 1.0 percent. Nationally, the number of nonfarm jobs increased by 1.2 percent and the number of private sector jobs increased by 1.2 percent between September 2006 and September 2007.

Professional and business services added the largest number of jobs (+24,600) over the September 2006-September 2007 period, with all of the increase in professional, scientific and technical services (+27,700). Employment also increased in educational and health services, construction, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and utilities. Natural resources and mining employment was unchanged.

Manufacturing (-15,900) registered the largest over-the-year drop among declining industries. The job losses were mostly in nondurable goods. The over-the-year decline in nondurable goods employment (-13,000) was centered in chemical manufacturing (-4,000) and apparel manufacturing (-3,700). Employment losses in durable goods (-2,900) were centered in machinery manufacturing (-3,000). Employment also declined in information and government.

In the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester designated metropolitan area, the number of non-farm jobs has increased by 5,600, or 1.0 percent, and the number of private-sector jobs has increased by 4,900, or 1.0 percent, since September 2006. The area”™s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in September 2007, compared with 3.6 percent in August and 3.6 percent in September 2006.

Marsha Gordon, president of The Business Council of Westchester, said it is “positive news” that the area”™s unemployment is so low.

“It reflects how healthy the economy is,” she said.

Still, it also reflects the need for Hudson Valley employers to draw from a regional work force, from Ulster County to New York City, she said.

That makes it critical for the area to improve its public transportation and roadway infrastructure, Gordon said.

“Especially people who commute from New York City, who don”™t have a car, need to be able to come to the major employment centers,” she said.