Unemployment Rates Continue to Fall Locally

Joblessness was again lower last month in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties than in July a year ago.

Overall, New York state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.6 percent in July 2014, remaining at its lowest level since November 2008.

“With 17,300 new jobs added in July 2014, New York State now marks 20 straight months of private sector job growth, the longest streak since at least 1990, as far as records go back,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Deputy Director of the Division of Research and Statistics, in a written statement. “In addition, our state’s jobless rate remained at its lowest level in more than five and a half years.”

The state Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in the tri-county area, down from 6.3 percent in July 2013. Putnam County is fueling the region’s results.

At 5.1 percent, Putnam is eighth on the list of counties in New York with the lowest unemployment rates.

New York’s five downstate suburban counties added 19,400 jobs in July. But the bulk of those employment opportunities were out on Long Island. The tri-county area only added 1,400 new private-sector jobs in July while Nassau and Suffolk counties added 18,000 new private-sector jobs.

All five counties continued to lose government jobs, according to the Department of Labor.