Ulster County leads state in private-sector job growth

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Several, but not all, counties in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills had higher overall job totals last month than a year earlier, and Ulster County had the best percentage gain in privatesector employment among the state’s metro areas, according to new data from the state.

Sullivan County, where the Resorts World Casino opened in February 2018, continued to far outpace the region, with 3,300 more nonfarm jobs last month than in June 2018, a gain of a whopping 10.1 percent, according to the monthly employment report issued Thursday by the New York Department of Labor.

Sullivan’s nonfarm job total in June was 32,700, the labor office said.

In Ulster County, the nonfarm job total rose by 1,600, a healthy 2.5 percent gain, in the June-to-June span to reach a total of 65,700, according to the labor statistics. The Dutchess-Putnam Metropolitan Division, which comprises all of both counties, gained 2,100 nonfarm jobs, an increase of 1.4 percent, during the same period to reach a total of 151,000.

Nonfarm employment includes all positions in the private and public sectors, with the exception of those in agriculture.

Columbia County’s nonfarm job total in June 2019 was 22,900, a gain of 300, or 1.3 percent, from a year earlier. Greene County’s June total was unchanged from a year earlier at 15,800.

Elsewhere in the region from June 2018 to June 2019, the state labor office said:

• The Orange-Rockland-Westchester Metropolitan Division lost 2,100 nonfarm jobs, or 0.3 percent, to finish the period at 735,500.

• Delaware County’s nonfarm job total fell by 100, or 0.6 percent, to 15,600.

In the private sector alone from June 2018 to June 2019, the department said:

• Ulster County added 1,500 jobs, or 3 percent. That was the highest percentage gain among the state’s 15 metropolitan areas.

• The Dutchess-Putnam Metropolitan Division gained 2,300 jobs, or 1.9 percent.

• The Orange-Rockland-Westchester Metropolitan Division lost 1,200 jobs, or 0.2 percent.

The statewide unemployment rate in June was 4 percent unchanged from a month earlier and down slightly from 4.1 percent in June 2018.