By Bill Parry
The Big Apple’s private jobs sector is on an historic run, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
The agency announced Monday the total number of jobs in the city has reached an all-time high—4.29 million—after an analysis of seasonally adjusted job numbers for January provided by the New York State Department of Labor.
“The incredible growth we’re seeing shows we can make our economy stronger and more fair at the same time,” Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen said. “We’re making strategic investments in fast-growing fields with good paying jobs and real career pathways for New Yorkers.”
The average number of jobs added since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office in January 2014 through December 2015 was 249,000—the largest two-year job gain in New York City history, according to the EDC. The city added 35,400 private sector jobs in January 2016, with the largest growth demonstrated in the Educational Services field.
During the previous 12 months ending in January 2016, the city gained 107,000 jobs, an increase of 3 percent, compared to a national growth rate of 2.2 percent. The strongest employment gains since December 2013 are in Health Care and Social Assistance, and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
“These numbers reflect what we’re seeing on the ground. More businesses launching and growing here in New York City. More New Yorkers finding good jobs in all five boroughs,” NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer said. “And with the de Blasio administration making major investments in industries like technology, design, and advanced manufacturing, we’re primed for even greater job growth in neighborhoods throughout the city.”
The city’s unemployment rate has fallen nearly three percentage points since de Blasio took office, the EDC said. So are potholes on city streets.
The mayor joined a Department of Transportation work crew Monday and filled in the one millionth pothole of his administration. It was a symbolic gesture, because the DOT has actually filled in even more during that time—more than 1.02 million potholes, 297,352 of them here in Queens.
“As the weather begins to warm even slightly as we head into spring, we should expect some potholes, but New Yorkers should know DOT crews are out there fixing them seven days a week,” de Blasio said. “As with our commitment to Vision Zero, today’s milestone illustrates how hard we are working to keep ahead of potentially dangerous conditions that can do damage to a car’s axle—or even worse.”
In 2015, the mayor announced a $1.6 billion commitment to resurface roads across the city over the next decade. In December, he announced that 1,100 miles had already been completed — on-time and on-budget.
“Our crews deserve enormous credit for their hard work keeping our roadways smoothly paved and safe,” Trottenberg said. “Mayor de Blasio’s wise investment in resurfacing has been instrumental to their success, as repaving actually prevents potholes.”
The troubling craters are caused by water seeping into asphalt pavement and are worsened in winter by high traffic, ice, snow and other precipitation. During pothole season, which generally runs from December through June, anywhere from 25 to 75 separate DOT pothole crews are dispatched daily.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
