NYS Private Sector Employment Up 20,200 Jobs in January 2026

Unemployment Rate Held Steady at 4.6%

According to prelimi nary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 20,200, or 0.2%, to 8,483,600 in Jan uary 2026. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.1% in January 2026.

New York State’s private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 18,400, or 0.2%, over the year in January 2026, less than the 0.4% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 4.6% in January 2026. At the same time, New York State’s labor force (seasonally adjusted) increased by 24,400. The statewide labor force participation rate increased to 61.7% in January 2026.

The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a pay roll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.

Jobs data are revised at the end of each year for all states and the nation as more complete information becomes available from employers’ Unemployment Insurance records. This process is called “bench marking” and is federally mandated.

Labor force data, including unemployment rates, are also revised at the end of each year, using meth ods established by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The revised labor force data show that New York State’s annual average unemployment rate increased from 4.2% in 2024 to 4.3% in 2025.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month com parison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, January 2025 versus January 2026.

STATEWIDE INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT

January 2026 – Seasonally Adjusted

• On a net basis, the total number of non farm jobs in the state increased by 23,800 over the month, while private sector jobs increased by 20,200 in January 2026.

• At the same time, the total number of non farm jobs in the nation increased by 126,000, while private sector jobs increased by 146,000.