ALBANY – New York’s statewide private-sector job count has reached its highest level on record, reaching 8,346,200, according to the latest data from the New York State Department of Labor.
The State gained 47,000 private-sector jobs in January 2024 with key sectors such as Private Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Professional and Business Services driving job growth. Overall, the state has recovered 1,935,600 private-sector jobs since the height of the pandemic in April 2020 when statewide jobs reached a 30-year low of just 6.4 million jobs.
“With jobs at an all-time high across the state, New York’s economy hasn’t just recovered – it’s been completely transformed,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “New York is back, and with our historic recovery and record-breaking 8.3 million jobs, my administration is moving full-steam ahead to keep creating good-paying jobs that help New Yorkers build a future here in our state.”
The State Department of Labor also noted that private sector jobs in the Hudson Valley increased by 10,400 or 1.3 percent, to 801,300 in the 12 months ending January 2024. Gains were greatest in private education and health services (+8,400), leisure and hospitality (+3,500), financial activities (+1,400), other services (+500), information (+200) and professional and business services (+200). Losses were centered in trade, transportation and utilities (-2,300), mining, logging and construction (-900) and manufacturing (-600).
The region’s private sector job count continued to trend upward, reaching 801,3000 – its highest January employment count on record. Three sectors posted year-over-year growth of at least 3.1 percent. Within the region, Sullivan County’s private employment sector grew the fastest year-over-year, up 5.7 percent. The second fastest growth was recorded in the Kingston MSA (+4.1 percent), followed by the Dutchess-Putnam Metropolitan Division (+2.4 percent), and the Orange-Rockland-Westchester labor market area (+0.7 percent).
