Government, which was the second largest provider of jobs in 2009, declined almost 6 percent and now lags behind trade, transportation and utilities as the third largest sector for employment.
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DiNapoli reported there were more than 9 million jobs in New York State last year, the highest number ever.
“While unemployment has dropped sharply, more New Yorkers are relying on part-time jobs or have dropped out of the labor force”, DiNapoli said. The report shows that in 2014 alone in the government sector dropped by more than 5,000, though the drop in percent growth wasn’t as severe.
Between 2009 and 2014, New York City increased its employment levels by 11.3 percent. Long Island had the highest rate at 67.5 percent, followed by the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speaks during the annual meeting of the Business Council of New York State at the Sagamore Resort on Friday, September 19, 2014, in Bolton Landing, N.Y. Wage growth was strong on a statewide basis and above the inflation rate in six of the 10 regional labor markets over the period. “Bright spots include fast-rising wages in the finance and information sectors, and signs of new growth in the western New York economy”. Education and health services remained the largest sector for employment in the state.
DiNapoli noted that most of the jobs gained were in New York City, while four upstate regions, including central New York, lost jobs over the five-year period.
DiNapoli’s report does not address the reason for the uneven growth, but the Upstate area historically has been slower to recover from recessions than the downstate region because of differences in their economies.
Wages in the state rose 14% from 2009 to 2014 while the state’s overall labor force dropped by 78,000 workers to just over 9.5 million – a decline of less than 1%.
A reduced labor force could hamper future economic growth in the state.
Four of the state’s 10 regions lost jobs in the past five years: Syracuse, the Adirondacks, Binghamton and Utica.
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The Capital Region lost almost 8,000 government-sector jobs and added about 5,000 in both leisure and hospitality and education and health services.
