Skip to Content Skip to Navigation
NY.gov Portal State Agency Listing

New York State Department of Labor Labor Statistics

A-Z Index | Translate

Labor Statistics for the Central New York Region Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego

For the 12-month period ending April 2012, the private sector job count in the Syracuse metro area rose 900, or 0.4 percent, to 256,500. Job growth was concentrated in professional and business services (+1,900) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,800). Job losses occurred in manufacturing (-900), private educational and health services (-900), natural resources, mining, and construction (-500), leisure and hospitality (-300), information (-100), and other services (-100). The government job count rose (+2,000) over the year, mainly in state government education and local government education.

Of Special Interest to the Central New York Region:

The Syracuse Economy's Health Improves

by Karen Knapik-Scalzo, Associate Economist, Central New York
(Excerpted from the August 2011 issue of the Employment in New York State newsletter)


The economy of the Syracuse metro area (Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties) is slowly emerging from the recession -- a feat that could take years to complete. As local economic prospects improve, the many attractive features of the Syracuse area persuade more businesses to re-locate or expand here. Against this healthier backdrop, the area struggles with many of the same issues as the nation, including tighter government budgets.

Winners and Losers

In June 2011, the unemployment rate in the Syracuse metro area stood at 8.0%. This level matched the state's rate, but was well below the nation's rate (9.3%). Although the local rate is below its year-ago level (8.4%), it still has a long way to go to match its pre-recession level of 5.2% (set in June 2008).

With more than 26,000 Syracuse area residents out of work as of June 2011, local firms can select from a deep pool of experienced workers. The area's private sector leads the local jobs recovery. It grew by 1.7% over the year ending June 2011.

Between 2009 and 2010, hospitals added the most jobs in the Syracuse metro area. The hospital job count (public and private sectors) increased by 405, or 3.7%, making it the leading local job generator. Other growth sectors over this period included:

  • Food services and drinking places (+371)
  • Waste management and remediation services (+247)
  • Administrative and support services (+226)
The area also received some good news recently when three Onondaga County firms received sizable U.S. Department of Defense contracts:
  • Lockheed Martin -- $16.7 million to modernize long-range radars
  • Welch Allyn Inc. -- Up to $43.65 million for patient-monitoring systems
  • JGB Enterprises Inc. -- Up to $99 million over five years for fuel and water system equipment
The bad news is that the area's government job count has dropped (-0.5%) over the past 12 months. More public sector jobs will vanish when Camp Georgetown, a minimum-security state prison in southern Madison County, closes in August 2011. The closure is due to a shrinking inmate population and cost-cutting. The prison employs 85.

The local manufacturing sector also has shed jobs, losing more than 1,300 workers from 2009 to 2010. New Process Gear (auto parts) and Birds Eye (frozen foods) will close their local plants by the end of 2011. Despite a falling job count, manufacturing is still one of the highest-paying sectors in the Syracuse metro area with average annual salaries of $59,748 in 2010.

Health Care Partnerships

Against a national backdrop of health care reform and tight budgets, many local health care providers are joining forces. Some hospitals have linked up and others have acquired physician practices. For example, Crouse Hospital in Syracuse (Onondaga County) expanded its service area through a link-up with Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton (Madison County). Crouse will benefit by providing services that Community doesn't perform and the move should improve Community's finances. Crouse will become the corporate parent and Community Memorial will continue to operate as a separate hospital.

Cheaper = Popular

Syracuse is an affordable place to live. Its overall cost of living is about 18% below the U.S. average, according to Sperling's BestPlaces. Cheaper housing prices factor into the area's lower cost of living. The median price of homes sold in the Syracuse metro area was $131,000 in June 2011, according to the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors. This was $53,300 (almost 30%) less than the U.S. median home price of $184,300 that month.

The Syracuse metro area also got some good news when the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the area's population is growing again. Between 2000 and 2010, population in the Syracuse metro area expanded by 12,423 (+1.9%). This reverses the loss (-1.5%) experienced from 1990 to 2000.

Summary

The local economy continues to rebound from the lingering effects of the economic downturn. It faces challenges as it struggles back to pre-recession job levels. However, this effort is greatly aided by the many aspects of the Syracuse metro area that make it a desirable place to work, live, and do business.


For more information, please contact:
Karen Knapik-Scalzo
NYS Department of Labor
450 S. Salina St., Room 300
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 479-3390
Fax: (315) 479-3271
E-mail: karen.knapik-scalzo@labor.ny.gov