Putnam Ranks No. 2 in State for Lowest Unemployment Rate
In figures recently released by the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research and Statistics, Putnam County ranked No. 2 at the end of November 2012 for having the lowest unemployment rate in the state. Nearby Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess counties ranked third, sixth and 11th respectively. Tompkins County had the lowest rate at 5.4 percent.
“We are grateful that Putnam County has maintained its high ranking for having low unemployment once again. The county has been consistently ranked No. 2 and our unemployment rate dropped even further since October of this year,” said County Executive Odell.
Putnam’s unemployment rate was listed at 6.2 in Nov. 2012 while in Oct. 2012, the rate of unemployment was 6.5.
“It is still an unacceptable number but at least it is trending down,” said Legislator Anthony DiCarlo (R-District 9)
The unemployment rate in Putnam was its highest in July 2012 when it reached 7.1 percent.
According to Johny Nelson, a labor market analyst for the Hudson Valley Region of the NYS Dept. of Labor, Putnam had the lowest rate (6.2 percent) of the seven counties that comprise the Hudson Valley Region. Sullivan County had the highest rate of unemployment at 9.2 percent.
The Nov. 2012 unemployment rate for the Hudson Valley Region is 7.0 percent which is down from 7.4 percent in Oct. 2012 and up from 6.8 percent in Nov. 2011.
In November 2012, there were 79,200 unemployed in the region, down from 84,000 in October 2012 and up from 75,900 in Nov. 2011.
Meanwhile, the labor force increased by 15,800 or 1.4 percent, to 1,133,400 over the 12-month period ending in Nov. 2012.
Of the 10 Labor Market Regions in New York State, the HV Region tied the Capital Region (7.0 percent) with the lowest unemployment rate in Nov. 2012.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics had the nation at a 7.7 percent (nonfarm) unemployment rate for Nov. 2012.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
