NEW YORK, NY — In May 2018, New York State’s private sector job count rose by 13,500, or 0.2%, to 8,166,300, a new, all-time employment high, according to preliminary figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor. Since the beginning of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, New York State’s economy has added 1,072,200 private sector jobs and experienced employment growth in 77 of the past 89 months.
New York’s statewide unemployment rate decreased from 4.6% to 4.5% in May 2018. This unemployment rate matches New York State’s lowest level since June 2007. In addition, the number of unemployed New Yorkers fell in May, from 448,700 to 437,500, also reaching its lowest level since June 2007.
The State’s private sector job count is based on a payroll survey of 18,000 New York employers conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more data become available the following month. The federal government calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.
“New York’s economy expanded in May 2018 as the State added 13,500 private sector jobs to reach a new, all-time high, and our statewide unemployment rate dipped to 4.5%, its lowest level in more than a decade,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Director of the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics.
Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, May 2017 versus May 2018.
United States and New York State: April – May 2018
1) Jobs data (seasonally adjusted):
The table below compares the over-the-month change in the total nonfarm and private sector job counts in the United States and New York State in April-May 2018.
| Change in | Change in | |||
| Total Nonfarm Jobs: | Private Sector Jobs: | |||
| (private sector + government) | ||||
| Net | % | Net | % | |
| United States | 223,000 | 0.20% | 218,000 | 0.20% |
| New York State | 12,300 | 0.10% | 13,500 | 0.20% |
*Data are preliminary and subject to change, based on standard procedures outlined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):
The State’s unemployment rate is calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, using a statistical regression model that primarily uses the results of the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. In May 2018, the statewide unemployment rate decreased from 4.6% to 4.5%. In addition, the number of unemployed New Yorkers fell over the month, from 448,700 to 437,500.
Unemployment Rates (%)*
| May 2018* | April 2018* | May 2017* | |
| United States | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| New York State | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| New York City | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| NYS, outside NYC | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
*Data are preliminary and subject to change, based on standard procedures outlined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
United States, New York State and Metro Areas: May 2017 – May 2018
1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):
The following table compares the over-the-year changes in the total nonfarm and private sector job counts occurring in the United States, New York State and metro areas within the State between May 2017 and May 2018.
Change in Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs by Area
May 2017 – May 2018
| Change in | Change in | |||
| Total Nonfarm Jobs: | Private Sector Jobs: | |||
| (private sector + government) | ||||
| Net | % | Net | % | |
| United States | 2,372,000 | 1.60% | 2,363,000 | 1.90% |
| New York State | 110,500 | 1.20% | 109,600 | 1.40% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 4,100 | 0.90% | 3,900 | 1.10% |
| Binghamton | -100 | -0.10% | 200 | 0.20% |
| Buffalo-Niagara Falls | 9,200 | 1.60% | 8,900 | 1.90% |
| Dutchess-Putnam | 3,400 | 2.30% | 3,200 | 2.60% |
| Elmira | -100 | -0.30% | -100 | -0.30% |
| Glens Falls | 500 | 0.90% | 400 | 0.90% |
| Ithaca | 1,800 | 2.70% | 1,800 | 3.20% |
| Kingston | 600 | 1.00% | 700 | 1.40% |
| Nassau-Suffolk | 14,100 | 1.00% | 12,200 | 1.10% |
| New York City | 77,500 | 1.70% | 79,500 | 2.10% |
| Orange-Rockland-Westchester | 5,400 | 0.70% | 4,200 | 0.70% |
| Rochester | 10,700 | 2.00% | 10,000 | 2.20% |
| Syracuse | 3,400 | 1.10% | 3,000 | 1.20% |
| Utica-Rome | -900 | -0.70% | -200 | -0.20% |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | 500 | 1.20% | 500 | 1.60% |
| Non-metro Counties | 600 | 0.10% | 300 | 0.10% |
Job highlights since May 2017:
- Thirteen metro areas in New York State added private sector jobs over the past year. The most rapid employment growth was in these areas:
- Ithaca (+3.2%)
- Dutchess-Putnam (+2.6%)
- Rochester (+2.2%)
- New York City (+2.1%)
- Buffalo-Niagara Falls (+1.9%)
- Watertown-Fort Drum (+1.6%)
- Non-metro counties in New York added 300 private sector jobs over the past year.
- Over the past 12 months, two metro areas in New York State lost private sector jobs: Elmira (-0.3%) and Utica-Rome (-0.2%).
Change in jobs by major industry sector: May 2017 – May 2018
1) Jobs data (not seasonally adjusted):
The table below compares the over-the-year change in jobs by major industry sector in New York State occurring between May 2017 and May 2018.
| Change in Jobs by Major Industry Sector | |
| May 2017 – May 2018 | |
| Sectors With Job Gains: | |
| Educational & Health Services* | 29,600 |
| Leisure & Hospitality | 25,900 |
| Professional & Business Services | 24,900 |
| Construction | 15,400 |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities | 9,800 |
| Other Services | 7,300 |
| Financial Activities | 3,700 |
| Government* | 900 |
| Natural Resources & Mining | 100 |
| Sectors With Job Losses: | |
| Manufacturing | -4,000 |
| Information | -3,100 |
*Educational and health services is in the private sector.
Government includes public education and public health services.
Highlights among New York State sectors with job gains since May 2017:
- Private educational and health services added the most jobs (+29,600) of any major industry sector over the past year. Sector job gains were mostly in health care and social assistance (+39,000), especially ambulatory health care (+21,200).
- From May 2017 to May 2018, the second largest employment increase occurred in leisure and hospitality (+25,900). Most over-the-year job gains in this sector were found in accommodation and food services (+17,900), especially food services and drinking places (+17,000).
- The third largest increase in jobs over the past year occurred in professional and business services, which grew by 24,900. Sector gains were centered in administrative and support services (+15,900) and professional, scientific and technical services (+9,100).
- Construction had the fourth largest increase in jobs (+15,400) between May 2017 and May 2018. Over-the-year sector gains were concentrated in specialty trade contractors (+13,500), especially building finishing contractors (+5,000).
Highlights among New York State sectors with job losses since May 2017:
- Over the past 12 months, manufacturing lost the most jobs (-4,000) of any major industry sector in New York State. Over-the-year sector losses were focused in durable goods (-5,700), especially computer and electronic products (-1,500).
- From May 2017 to May 2018, the second largest employment decrease occurred in information, which lost 3,100 jobs. Over-the-year sector job losses were focused in publishing (-3,400) and telecommunications (-900).
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: May 2018
1) Regular Unemployment Insurance:
For New York State, during the week that included May 12, 2018, there were 100,342 people (including 90,832 who live in the State) who received benefits under the regular Unemployment Insurance program.
In May 2018, New York State residents who received Unemployment Insurance benefits made up 21% of the total unemployed.
Note: The responsibility for the production of monthly estimates of state and metro area nonfarm employment by industry moved from the Division of Research and Statistics to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), starting with the March 2011 estimates. More detailed information on the change is available on the BLS website.
Many economic data series have a seasonal pattern, which means they tend to occur at the same time each year (e.g., retail jobs usually increase in December). Seasonal adjustment is the process of removing seasonal effects from a data series. This is done to simplify the data so that they may be more easily interpreted and help to reveal true underlying trends. Seasonal adjustment permits comparisons of data from one month to data from any other month.
Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of 18,000 business establishments. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers or domestic workers in private households.
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