In an op-ed that appeared in Crain’s, Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, Inc. stresses the importance of creating private sector jobs as the means to rebuild New York’s economy.

“Last year’s federal stimulus package seems to have made a terrible job-loss situation less bad. But we are not out of the woods. With national unemployment stuck at around 10%, the inevitable question is: What should government do next?

Lawmakers, especially here in New York, must remember that the solution is not for government to “create jobs” itself. Sustainable jobs that add economic value and strengthen (rather than tax) our communities come from the private sector. A better question might be: What should government do to encourage private-sector job growth?

In New York’s case, there are two answers: Remove existing barriers to business investment and job growth, and provide targeted incentives to support job retention and job creation.

The high cost of doing business in this state discourages new investments by businesses and smothers entrepreneurs in emerging sectors. As a result, New Yorkers, especially the young and well-educated, continue to leave for better opportunities elsewhere.

The biggest step for job creation here is a more competitive business climate with lower taxes, lower state-imposed costs in areas like energy and health coverage, and less burdensome regulations. But such improvements will take time to happen. Until then, New York can take smaller steps by offering more-targeted and cost-effective economic incentives to help offset our competitiveness burdens.”

To read the rest of the op-ed click here.