Long Island added more than 10,000 jobs year over year as of September, helped by hot construction and health care sectors, but shed nearly as many jobs from August to September as the hospitality industry downsized.
The number of private sector jobs on Long Island increased over the year by 10,600, or 0.9 percent, to 1,161,000 in September, showing growth for the year.
That was lower than the state’s 1.4 percent over-the-year private sector growth rate and the nation’s 1.6 percent rate, but still an increase.
Long Island’s year over year growth, however, included big cuts in the region’s hospitality industry – after a hiring spree in the summer.
Long Island’s private sector job count decreased by 9,800 between August and September compared to an average loss of 3,500.
“On the heels of a record summer hiring season in leisure and hospitality, the sector shed 14,800 jobs in September, compared to an average of 6,500,” according to Shital Patel, principal economist and labor market analyst for Long Island at the New York State Department of Labor in Hicksville.
Four of nine private industry sectors gained jobs in September compared to a year ago, led by education and health services, which added 11,500 jobs; and the sector including construction, which added 7,500.
Leisure and hospitality was up 1,800 for the year, manufacturing added 1,000 and the government sector added 300 jobs over-the-year.
“Overall, September’s report confirmed that Long Island’s labor market has strengthened slightly from 2018,” Patel said. “Job growth in 2019 has accelerated at a moderate pace compared to 2018, and the total number of jobs in the region remains at record levels”
Construction employment is up 7.2 percent this year, she added, noting that “summer hiring in the leisure and hospitality sector reached record levels.” But once the warm weather waned, many hospitality jobs went away.
“Record hiring in the leisure and hospitality sector led to record job losses in that sector, which shed 14,800 jobs in September compared to an average of 6,500,” Patel said.
The health care sector added a record 4,600 jobs in September, led by the social assistance industry, including child day care services.
Store closures “led to a record loss of jobs in September in the retail industry,” Patel continued.
“However, growth in e-commerce has driven hiring in the transportation and warehousing category, which added 4,400 jobs in September compared to an average of 3,600,” she said.
The financial activities sector on Long Island “continues to face weakness, mainly in mortgage activities and other back office operations,” Patel said. “Global economic uncertainty may also be limiting growth in the sector.”
