"This month's large increase in nonfarm jobs was due in part to federal stimulus spending. Stimulus-funded projects helped boost employment in the construction sector. In addition, there was a much larger-than-normal increase in government-funded summer youth hiring this year. In past years, public funds typically provided for about 25,000 summer youth jobs. This year with the addition of federal stimulus funds, a total of approximately 60,000 youth were placed in jobs this summer," said Peter A. Neenan, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Research and Statistics.
Note: When comparing different months, seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid comparison, for example, June 2009 versus July 2009. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, July 2008 versus July 2009.
1.) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):
New York State's unemployment rate, after seasonal adjustment, decreased from 8.7 percent in June to 8.6 percent in July 2009. In July 2008, the state's rate was 5.4 percent. The U.S. rate was 9.4 percent in July 2009, down from 9.5 percent in June. In July 2008, the nation's rate was 5.8 percent. New York City's rate increased from 9.4 percent in June 2009 to 9.6 percent in July 2009. In July 2008, the city's rate was 5.4 percent. The rate outside of New York City was 7.9 percent in July 2009, down from June's 8.2 percent. In July 2008, the rate outside of New York City was 5.4 percent.
| July 2009* | June 2009 | July 2008 | |
| New York State | 8.6 | 8.7 | 5.4 |
| United States | 9.4 | 9.5 | 5.8 |
| New York City | 9.6 | 9.4 | 5.4 |
| NYS, excluding NYC | 7.9 | 8.2 | 5.4 |
| *Data are preliminary and subject to change. |
2.) Unemployment Insurance, EUC08 and Extended Benefits data (not seasonally adjusted):
Under the regular Unemployment Insurance (regular UI) program, individuals who are involuntarily unemployed through no fault of their own may be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits as long as they remain ready, willing and able to work, and are actively seeking employment. Under the temporary federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program, enacted on June 30, 2008, as part of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, claimants who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular benefits are eligible to receive up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. Federal legislation signed into law on November 21, 2008, added up to 20 more weeks to the original 13 weeks of EUC08 benefits. State legislation signed into law on May 20, 2009, provides additional weeks of Extended Benefits (EB) for individuals who have exhausted their EUC08 benefits. Up to 13 weeks of EB are available when the state's three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.5 percent or greater, and up to 20 weeks when the three-month average is 8.0 percent or greater; the state crossed the 8.0 percent threshold in June 2009. Monthly beneficiaries data for these programs are noted below.
| Program and Data Item* | July 2009 | June 2009 | July 2008 |
| Regular UI, monthly beneficiaries |
434,354
|
425,964
|
219,431
|
| Regular UI, year-to-date beneficiaries |
834,548
|
770,178
|
496,094
|
| EUC08, monthly beneficiaries |
192,623
|
179,989
|
60,748
|
| EUC08, year-to-date beneficiaries |
338,660
|
298,085
|
60,748
|
| Extended UI, monthly beneficiaries |
76,151
|
69,943
|
NA
|
| Extended UI, year-to-date beneficiaries |
81,166
|
71,157
|
NA
|
| *Data are preliminary and subject to revision. |
3.) Job data (seasonally adjusted):
New York State and the nation, June 2009 - July 2009:
The number of private sector jobs in New York State increased by 14,000, or 0.2 percent, to 7,089,500 in July 2009, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Nationally, the number of private sector jobs decreased by 0.2 percent over the same period. After seasonal adjustment, the number of nonfarm jobs (private plus public sectors) in the state increased over the month by 62,100, or 0.7 percent, to 8,644,600 in July 2009. Nationally, the number of seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs decreased by 0.2 percent in July.
4.) Nonfarm jobs since July 2008 (not seasonally adjusted):
| Total nonfarm jobs | -171,600 | ||
| Private sector jobs | -200,000 |
Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs (private plus public sectors) in New York State decreased by 171,600, or 1.9 percent, and the number of private sector jobs decreased by 200,000, or 2.7 percent. Nationally, the number of nonfarm jobs decreased by 4.2 percent and the number of private sector jobs decreased by 5.0 percent between July 2008 and July 2009.
Educational and health services added the largest number of jobs (+31,200) over the July 2008-July 2009 period, with increases in both health care and social assistance (+17,700) and educational services (+13,500). The job count also increased over the year in government (+28,400) and other services (+9,700).
Among declining sectors, trade, transportation and utilities (-63,600) registered the largest over-the-year drop, with losses concentrated in wholesale and retail trade (-52,500). Professional and business services lost 56,400 jobs over the year with losses concentrated in administrative and support services (-33,900), especially employment services (-32,900). Manufacturing lost 44,400 jobs between July 2008 and July 2009 with most of the loss in durable goods (-33,800). Financial activities (-40,500) had the next highest set of losses, with the securities industry (-28,000) experiencing the largest decline within that sector. The job count also decreased over the year in construction, information, leisure and hospitality, and natural resources and mining.
| Change in Jobs by Sector, July 2008-July 2009 |
|||
| Sectors with Job Gains: | |||
| Educational & Health Services | +31,200 | ||
| Government | +28,400 | ||
| Other Services | +9,700 | ||
| Sectors with Job Losses: | |||
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities | -63,600 | ||
| Professional & Business Services | -56,400 | ||
| Manufacturing | -44,400 | ||
| Financial Activities | -40,500 | ||
| Construction | -23,500 | ||
| Information | -9,100 | ||
| Leisure & Hospitality | -3,100 | ||
| Natural Resources & Mining | -300 | ||
5.) Nonfarm jobs since June 2009 (not seasonally adjusted):
| Total nonfarm jobs | -12,400 | ||
| Private sector jobs | -12,300 |
In July 2009, New York State had 8,660,400 total nonfarm jobs, including 7,136,300 private sector jobs. From June 2009 to July 2009, the number of nonfarm jobs decreased by 12,400 and the number of private sector jobs decreased by 12,300. On average, in the previous ten years, the number of nonfarm jobs in New York decreased by 81,800 from June to July, and the number of private sector jobs decreased by 41,500.
The not seasonally adjusted job count increased over the month in leisure and hospitality (+20,100), other services (+8,800), construction (+8,200), financial activities (+3,000), professional and business services (+600), information (+500), and natural resources and mining (+100). The job count in educational and health services (-27,300), trade, transportation and utilities (-19,800), manufacturing (-6,500), and government (-100) decreased over the month.
6.) New York State nonfarm job highlights since June 2009 (not seasonally adjusted):
Leisure and hospitality
Leisure and hospitality employment increased over the month, with gains centered in arts, entertainment and recreation.
Other services
This sector's over-the-month job growth was centered in religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations.
Construction
Construction employment experienced its typical seasonal increase between June and July, with most of the gain due to specialty trade contractors.
Financial activities
Over-the-month employment gains in this sector were focused in real estate, and rental and leasing.
Professional and business services
This month's hiring increase was concentrated in professional, scientific and technical services, particularly in accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services.
Information
Publishing industries (except Internet) accounted for most of this sector's employment gain between June and July.
Natural resources and mining
The natural resources and mining sector experienced its usual June-July employment increase.
Government
Overall public sector employment levels decreased slightly over the month as the increase in summer youth jobs was outweighed by the seasonal staffing reductions made by many local elementary and secondary schools in July.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing's job count decreased over the month and was concentrated in durable goods, particularly fabricated metal product manufacturing.
Trade, transportation and utilities
In July, over-the-month sector employment losses were focused in two areas -- transportation and warehousing, reflecting seasonal layoffs by many private providers of school bus transportation, and in retail trade, where losses were greatest at building material and garden equipment stores.
Educational and health services
Sector employment decreased over the month, with educational services -- especially private colleges, universities, and professional schools -- losing the most jobs in July.
7.) Metropolitan Areas:
Job Growth and Unemployment Rates (not seasonally adjusted):
Note: All data reported in this section are not seasonally adjusted; the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, July 2008 versus July 2009.
Albany-Schenectady-Troy: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 10,500, or 2.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 9,400, or 2.7 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in July 2009, compared with 7.3 in June and 5.0 in July 2008.
Binghamton: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 3,500, or 3.1 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 3,800, or 4.1 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.5 in June and 5.5 in July 2008.
Buffalo-Niagara Falls: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 11,800, or 2.1 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 12,600, or 2.7 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.9 in June and 6.0 in July 2008.
Glens Falls: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 2,800, or 4.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 2,300, or 4.7 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in July 2009, compared with 7.4 in June and 4.8 in July 2008.
Ithaca: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 200, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 300, or 0.6 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in July 2009, compared with 6.7 in June and 4.6 in July 2008.
Kingston: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 200, or 0.3 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 1,100, or 2.3 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.2 in June and 5.7 in July 2008.
Nassau-Suffolk: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 35,600, or 2.8 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 36,300, or 3.4 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in July 2009, compared with 7.5 in June and 5.1 in July 2008.
New York City (five boroughs): Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 65,100, or 1.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 93,200, or 2.9 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in July 2009, compared with 9.3 in June and 5.7 in July 2008.
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 7,000, or 2.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 6,300, or 3.1 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.3 in June and 5.5 in July 2008.
Putnam-Rockland-Westchester: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 10,600, or 1.8 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 10,000, or 2.0 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in July 2009, compared with 7.5 in June and 5.0 in July 2008.
Rochester: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 11,200, or 2.2 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 10,300, or 2.3 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.4 in June and 5.6 in July 2008.
Syracuse: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 5,400, or 1.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 6,300, or 2.4 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in July 2009, compared with 8.6 in June and 5.6 in July 2008.
Utica-Rome: Since July 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs has decreased by 2,300, or 1.7 percent, and the number of private sector jobs has decreased by 2,400, or 2.4 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in July 2009, compared with 7.7 in June and 5.2 in July 2008.
Note: 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. Jobs data for New York are obtained from a survey of 18,000 business establishments. Jobs data exclude agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers and domestic workers in private households.
See State and Area Unemployment Rates