Local counties — especially Sullivan — notch job growth

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Employment rose in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills during the 12-month period ending March 31, according to the monthly employment report issued Thursday by the New York State Department of Labor.

The most significant increase in nonfarm jobs during that period was in Sullivan County, home to the new Resorts World Catskills casino. Sullivan had 27,600 nonfarm jobs in March, an increase of 2,000 jobs, or 7.8 percent, over the March 2017 level of 25,600.

Nonfarm employment — which includes all positions in the private and public sectors, with the exception of those in agriculture — also was higher in other local counties last month than it was a year earlier, the labor office said.

The Dutchess-Putnam Metropolitan Division, which includes all of Dutchess and Putnam counties, had a 2.6 percent spike, adding 3,800 jobs and bringing the job total in those two counties to 149,200, compared to 145,400 in March 2017.

Ulster County, while showing an increase in nonfarm jobs, lagged behind most other counties in the region, adding only 400 positions between March 2017 and March 2018. According to the labor office statistics, Ulster County had 61,200 nonfarm jobs in March 2018, a 0.7 percent increase over the 60,800 jobs recorded in March 2017.

Greene County added 700 nonfarm jobs, a 4.8 percent jump, from March 2017 to March 2018, bringing its total to 15,400.

Columbia County gained 300 nonfarm jobs from March 2017 and March 2018, a gain of 1.7 percent, to reach a total of 21,300.

Delaware County’s total held steady at 14,900.