Recent Labor Market Developments:
Utica-Rome Metropolitan Statistical Area

Unemployment Rates (not seasonally adjusted)

Utica-Rome MSA (Oneida and Herkimer Counties)

The unemployment rate in the Utica-Rome MSA declined from 7.9 percent in November 2010 to 7.4 percent in November 2011. The current jobless rate is at its third highest November level on record.  The record high jobless rate for November (7.9 percent) occurred in 2010, and the second highest November (7.6 percent) occurred in 2009.  (The current unemployment rate series began in 1990.)
 Following normal seasonal trends, the jobless rate increased from October 2011.  In the past 10 years, from October to November, the jobless rate increased 10 times.
The unemployment rate should increase in December as declines in construction and leisure and hospitality will more than offset holiday seasonal hiring in retail trade.  In the past 10 years, from November to December, the jobless rate increased 8 times, fell once and remained unchanged once.

Change in nonfarm jobs since November 2010

For the 12-month period ending November 2011, the nonfarm job count in the Utica-Rome metro area rose by 3,200, or 2.4 percent, to 134,600, its highest November level since 2007.  This is the fifth time in the past 6 months that over-the-year job gains have occurred.          

 Job gains occurred in educational and health services (+1,400), leisure and hospitality (+1,100), trade, transportation and utilities (+700), professional and business services (+500) and financial activities (+200).   

Job Losses occurred in government (-400), natural resources, mining, and construction (-200) and information (-100).  Government losses occurred in local  government (-300) and federal government (-100).  In local government, losses in local government administration (-800) more than offset a gain in local government education (+500).   
    
Education and health services is at its highest November level on record.  (This data series began in 1990.)
    

Focus on the Mohawk Valley

The overall job count in the Mohawk Valley region (Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie counties) is still below where it stood in 2007, the last full year before the “Great Recession” hit the New York State economy. From 2007 to 2010, employment in the region fell from 197,610 to 191,790. This was a drop of 5,820, or 2.9%. In this article, we review which industries gained or lost the most jobs (net change) in the region over this period. All data presented come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), gathered from employers covered under New York State’s Unemployment Insurance Law.

Industry Job Gainers

Social assistance added the most jobs (+680) of any industry in the region between 2007 and 2010. The sector set an all-time employment high in 2010. The largest job gains occurred in vocational rehabilitation services and servicesfor the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The federal government added 570 jobs from 2007 to 2010. It was boosted by growth at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and temporary hiring for the 2010 Census. Federal government jobs pay above-average wages -- $53,365 -- nearly 50% higher than the region’s average ($35,815).

Between 2007 and 2010, food services and drinking places added 520 jobs. Most of the industry’s gain occurred in 2010. The industry’s average wage of $12,735 is quite low. This is because many of the jobs are part-time.

The Mohawk Valley’s educational services sector added 470 jobs in 2007-2010. This includes private elementary and secondary schools and private two- and four-year colleges.  (Note: Public schools are part of the local government sector.)

Hospitals added 430 jobs from 2007 to 2010.  This large industry boasted a higher-than-average wage of $49,985 in 2010. Except in 2007, the job count in this key sector grew every year between 2000 and 2010.

Industry Job Losers

Administrative and support services lost the most jobs (-790) between 2007 and 2010. Most of the drop was in a catchall category -- all other support services. The job count also dipped in temporary help services, due to the recession.

The second biggest employment drop was recorded in insurance carriers, which lost 610 jobs in 2007-2010. In 2010, the industry’s average wage was $51,101 -- more than 40% higher than the region’s average wage.

Motor vehicles and parts dealers lost 550 jobs between 2007 and 2010. Following national trends, most losses were at new car dealers.  However, dealers in used cars, RVs, motorcycles, ATVs, and tires also saw jobs drop.

Printing and related support activities lost 520 jobs over the three-year period. This was the only manufacturing industry on the Mohawk Valley’s “losers” list.

Warehousing and storage lost 510 jobs between 2007 and 2010. This industry, however, is still significant to the region, due to both its large number of jobs and high wages. Although industry employment is down since 2007, it is still double from where it stood in 2000.

Summary

Information compiled by the Labor Market Analysts of the
Division of Research and Statistics
New York State Department of Labor
Mohawk Valley Regional Office
(315) 793-2282