Business & Tech

State Unemployment Rate Falls

Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties have experienced job growth.

The state's unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent in June 2013, according to new data from the New York Department of Labor. 

That's only one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the national average, but it's way below the jobless rate this time last year—which was 8.7 percent.

In areas of the state outside of NYC, including Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, the unemployment rate fell to 6.9 percent from 7.1 percent, the lowest in more than four years,  department officials said.

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The tri-county region has seen job growth in the past year, according to the report released July 18. Putnam, Rockland and Westchester gained 10,200 jobs, an increase of 2.1 percent in the private sector. 

Because of continuing cuts in government, net growth was 8,900 jobs.

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  • Over the past year, private sector jobs grew most rapidly in these metro areas in the state:
    • Glens Falls (+3.1%)
    • Kingston (+3.0%)
    • New York City (+2.3%)
    • Nassau-Suffolk (+2.1%)
    • Putnam-Rockland-Westchester (+2.1%)

Month over month, the number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased  from May to June— "from 729,400 in May 2013 to 720,900 in June 2013," the report stated.


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