August 18, 2015
By Stephanie West
Albany, NY – New York reached its highest employment level ever – more than 9 million jobs in 2014, after adding 538,000 jobs since 2009. The overall job growth in 2014 alone was 143,000 – the strongest growth since 2000. Job growth was uneven across the state, with New York City gaining three out of four new statewide jobs from 2009 to 2014.
“Six years after the Great Recession, growth is steady statewide, but some specific regions are still struggling,” DiNapoli said. “While unemployment has dropped sharply, more New Yorkers are relying on part-time jobs or have dropped out of the labor force. Bright spots include fast-rising wages in the finance and information sectors, and signs of new growth in the western New York economy.”
During 2009 to 2014 New York’s addition of 538,000 jobs statewide outperformed the nation in seven of 11 major industry sectors.
Long Island added more than 57,000 jobs, and western New York more than 9,400, during the period.
Job growth was highest in the leisure and hospitality sector. Moderate rises occurred in education, health services, construction, financial activities, information and in transportation. Financial activity and information sectors saw average wages jump by more than 25 percent from 2009 to 2014. New York lost jobs in manufacturing.
