Queens Job Gains Fueling New York City Economy

January seasonal unemployment figures normally rise, following the end of the busy holiday shopping season.
Queens Borough President Claire Shulman pointed to the boroughs flexible work force which is currently involved in massive aviation, health care, and transportation construction programs throughout Queens.
She pointed to the large, well-trained pool of workers who are currently working on such projects as the airport Air Train system, the 63 St. Subway Tunnel, the giant $200 million sewage retention tank, corporate park expansions, as well as entertainment industry projects.
Key to their success, said Shulman, were the diversity and skill of the boroughs work pool as well as her offices program that is designed to expedite public and private programs with appropriate governmental agencies.
The rosy report was issued by the State office of Economic Affairs, which said that more than 963,000 jobs are currently available in Queens.
In January 2001, New York Citys private sector jobs were increasing at twice the pace as the rest of the United States, while Queens job gains were seven times greater.
Noting that last year, with two exceptions, Queens had its lowest September jobless rate than any similar period during the past 30 years, the Chase Manhattans Financial Digest explained Queens steady four percent annual rising employment rates.
"Some of the heftiest improvements in labor market conditions," stated the authoritative report, "are occurring outside of Manhattan, in the so-called outer boroughs." The report said that "construction, airport related activity, and manufacturing are thriving in Queens."
Flushing Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Myra Baird Herce said the local labor forces strong showing excelled because of its diversity and a strong work ethic. "In Flushing alone," she declared, "our residents speak 146 difference languages, and they continue to carry on the tradition of hard work that was practiced by the new Americans who preceded them in previous years."