Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Deirdra L. Picou (212) 788-2971
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani issued the following statement today regarding a State report showing growth in New York City's private sector employment:
"As the employment data indicates, the City is experiencing sustained and steady private sector job growth. In fact, if the current rate of growth continues, the City will experience in 1997 the largest increase in private sector employment since 1984," the Mayor said.
Private sector employment in the City increased by 2,500 jobs in March and is up 56,800 jobs year-over-year. This represents a 2.0% rise. Total employment increased by 1,800 jobs as government employment (federal, state and local) decreased by 700 jobs, with most of the losses in local government, down by 500 jobs.
The City's unemployment rate in March was 9.7%, up from 9.5% in February. Mayor Giuliani said, "During a period of strong private sector growth and increased job opportunities in the market, it is to be expected that the labor force would grow; and, thus, it is not unusual to find a small rise in unemployment."
The employment data was released this afternoon in Albany by the New York State Department of Labor.