Most CNY regions posted job gains in December

The Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Binghamton, and Elmira regions all gained jobs in December compared to December 2023. However, the Watertown–Fort Drum and Ithaca areas lost jobs in the same 12-month period. That’s according to the latest monthly employment report that the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) issued on Jan. 23.

December jobs data

The Syracuse region gained 6,200 jobs between December 2023 and December 2024, an increase of 1.9 percent. Elsewhere, the Utica–Rome metro area gained 800 jobs, a 0.6 percent rise; the Binghamton region added 1,100 jobs, an increase of 1.1 percent; and the Elmira area picked up 400 positions, a gain of 1.1 percent, in the last year. Bucking the trend, the Watertown–Fort Drum region lost 300 jobs, a decrease of 0.7 percent, and the Ithaca metro area shed 1,000 jobs, a loss of 1.6 percent, in the 12-month period between December 2023 and December 2024. New York state as a whole added 126,400 total jobs, an increase of 1.3 percent, in the past year, the NYSDOL said.

December private-sector jobs data

The Syracuse area gained 5,400 private-sector jobs in December 2024 compared to December 2023, a rise of 2.1 percent. Elsewhere, the Utica–Rome region added 600 private jobs, a 0.6 percent rise; the Binghamton metro area picked up 400 private-sector positions, an increase of 0.5 percent; and the Elmira region gained 300 private jobs, a rise of 1 percent, in the past year. Going in the other direction, the Watertown–Fort Drum area shed 300 private-sector positions, a loss of 1 percent, and the Ithaca region lost 1,600 private jobs, a drop of 3 percent, in the period between December 2023 and December 2024. New York state gained 108,800 private-sector jobs, a rise of 1.3 percent, in the last year, the NYSDOL said.