NY sees job losses in higher-paying industries, needs to promote growth nationally, says The Business Council

Brian Tumulty of Gannett News (Washington Bureau) writes:

“Job growth in areas north of New York City has generally been slow or nonexistent.

…The 55 counties lost more than 100,000 jobs between January 2001 and January 2010, according to state labor force data.

Even worse, many of the new jobs have been in low-wage industries such as restaurants, educational services and home health care, according to the Fiscal Policy institute.

And the job losses were concentrated in higher-paid industries.

“We are trading jobs that are high-paying and (compete) in international markets for low-paying jobs that depend on a local market,” said Ken Pokalsky, senior director of government affairs at the New York State Business Council. “We are shedding good-paying jobs by the bushel load.”

The state’s highest-paying industry, finance and insurance, lost nearly 74,000 jobs between 2000 and 2010. The average 2010 wage in that sector was more than $194,000.

The high-paying information technology sector, with an average 2010 wage of more than $90,000, lost almost 73,000 jobs, while manufacturing lost almost 290,000 and construction lost more than 19,000. The average 2010 wage among New Yorkers in manufacturing topped $59,000. In construction, it topped $60,000.

“The best thing for New York would be to promote growth nationally,” Pokalsky said.”

To read more click here.