NYS 114.4 114.8 115.2 115.6 116.0 N07 D07 J08 F08 M08 A08 M08 J08 J08 A08 S08 O08 N08 Unemployment Rate 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 N0 7 D0 7 J0 8 F0 8 M0 8 A0 8 M0 8 J0 8 J0 8 A0 8 S0 8 O0 8 N0 8 Month Rate Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 400 450 500 550 600 N07 D07 J08 F08 M08 A08 M08 J08 J08 A08 S08 O08 N08 Month 7200 7220 7240 7260 7280 7300 N07 D07 J08 F08 M08 A08 M08 J08 J08 A08 S08 O08 N08 Series1 (Data not seasonally adjusted, numbers in thousands) At a Glance % Net Nov. 2007 - Nov. 2008 Total Nonfarm Jobs Private Sector Goods-producing Nat. res. & mining Construction Manufacturing Durable gds. Nondurable gds. Service-providing Trade, trans., & util. Wholesale trade Retail trade Trans., wrhs., & util. Information Financial activities Prof. & bus. svcs. Educ. & health svcs. Leisure & hospitality Other services Government -0.4 -0.6 -2.2 1.5 -0.8 -3.2 -2.3 -4.5 -0.2 -1.1 -0.9 -1.5 0.1 0.2 -2.2 -1.2 1.3 -0.1 0.7 0.6 In November 2008, New York’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 per- cent, up from 5.7 percent in October 2008. (The nation’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November.) In November 2008, the state had 8,736,900 nonfarm jobs, in- cluding 7,219,700 private sector jobs, af- ter seasonal adjustment. The number of private sector jobs in the state decreased by 0.3 percent from October, while the U.S. private sector job count decreased by 0.5 percent. From November 2007 to Novem- ber 2008, the number of private sector jobs decreased by 0.6 percent in the state and decreased by 2.0 percent in the U.S. (not seasonally adjusted). In addition, New York’s Index of Coincident Economic Indi- cators decreased in November. Continued on page 2 IN NOVEMBER... ...NYS private sector jobs decreased 2007 2008 Seasonally adjusted 2007 Seasonally adjusted 2008 Index 2007 2008 Seasonally adjusted In 000s Unemployment Rates USA NYS Coincident Economic Index Number of Private Sector Jobs 2008 In 000s 2007 Seasonally adjusted Total Unemployment Percent Job Search Strategies for Challenging Times Change in Nonfarm Jobs David A. Paterson, Governor M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner JANUARY 2009 I N N E W Y O R k S T A T E Employment Tips for Jump-starting Your Next Job Search (Part 2)… 7300 7280 7260 7240 720 720 N D J F M A M J J A S O N 4.0 6.0 5.5 4.5 5.0 7.0 6.5 N D J F M A M J J A S O N N D J F M A J J A S O N N D J F M A M J J A S O N 450 500 600 400 550 114.4 115.2 114.8 116.0 115.6 ...NYS unemployment increased Last month we discussed how the current recession is shaping up to be the longest U.S. economic slump in the post-World War II era. It is no surprise that this has resulted in job seekers reporting more difficulty in finding positions. We also suggested last month that job seekers follow a three-step plan: self-assessment (Who am I?); career exploration (Where am I going?); and the job search (How do I get there?). This month we complete our series on strategies for job seekers, including a hiring manager’s list of job seeker “do’s” and “don’ts.” Career Exploration The career exploration step consists of market research: find out which business- es employ workers with your job title/ skills, and which ones are hiring. Discover the industry or type of activities engaged in by each firm. They may all employ workers in your job title, but it is unlikely that they all use them the same way. As you explore, consider what you want from your next position -- such as job duties, salary, and other details. You can find a business directory for finding potential employers online at: www.labor.state. ny.us/workforceindustrydata/bdirec- tor.shtm. To view current openings, visit americasjobexchange.com/ny. ...NYS unemployment rate increased ...NYS economic index decreased -32.7 -41.8 -20.4 0.1 -2.8 -17.7 -7.5 -10.2 -12.3 -16.8 -3.1 -13.9 0.2 0.5 -15.9 -13.3 22.2 -0.8 2.7 9.1 What a Difference a Year Makes by Tammy Marino, Labor Market Analyst, Finger Lakes Region Continued on page 3 Focus on the Finger Lakes “During these unprecedented difficult eco- nomic times, the New York State Department of Labor and its workforce partners are work- ing together to meet the challenging needs of area businesses and job seekers.” Bruce Herman, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Job Search Strategies... from page 1 EMPLOYMENT IN NEW YORk STATE JANUARY 2009 2 Although manufac- turing jobs declined during the year, em- ployment was much more stable in 2008 than in 2007. The U.S. economy officially entered into reces- sion in December 2007, according to the Na- tional Bureau of Economic Research, the wide- ly acknowledged arbiter of recession dates. At that time, the private sector job count in the Rochester metro area (Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties) stood at 439,000, down 700 jobs (-1.6 percent) over the year. The area’s unemployment rate was a relatively low 4.8 percent. Eastman kodak had just concluded its massive restructuring plan and local job losses were largely concentrated in the manufacturing sector. In the subsequent 12 months, the local jobs picture has dramatically worsened. The weakness that began in the area’s manufacturing sector has spread to a number of other key industries. From Novem- ber 2007 to November 2008, the number of private sector jobs fell by 4,200 (-1.0 percent) to 435,000, its lowest level for the month since 2003. Over the same time span, the area’s un- employment rate climbed from 4.3 percent to 5.9 percent. It has been a difficult year to say the least. Over the past 12 months, educational and health services added 1,700 new jobs, but all other major sectors -- manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services, construction and leisure and hospitality -- showed net losses. Changes in Manufacturing While the local employment base is no longer The Job Search The five major phases of the job search step include: 1. develop resume and cover letter; 2. make a list of potential employers, send out resume and cover letter, and follow-up; 3. develop your interview skills; 4. send thank you letters, be patient, and follow-up; 5. evaluate job offers. Your resume and cover letter are essentially commercials. As mentioned last month, net- working is the leading method for getting job leads. Send each employer a custom version as dependent on Rochester’s “Big Three” (East- man kodak, Xerox and Bausch & Lomb), manu- facturing remains important to the area econo- my. Over the past quarter century, downsizing at Rochester’s largest manufacturer -- Eastman kodak -- has led to a drop in local employment from 60,400 in 1982 to fewer than 9,200 today, according to published reports. Despite this drop, nearly 1,400 manufacturing firms em- ployed more than 73,000 workers and injected more than $4.3 billion in wages into the Roch- ester area’s economy in 2007. To put these figures in perspec- tive: manufacturers accounted for more than one out of every six private sector workers and paid out more than 25 percent of all private sector wages in the Rochester area in 2007. No other major sector injects as much money in terms of total wages into the local economy. It’s not all bad news. Although manufactur- ing jobs declined during the year, employ- ment was much more stable in 2008 than in 2007. Many employers have shifted their focus from the local market to national and/ or global markets. Taking advantage of tech- nological advances, area manufacturers have increased their productivity. Employers are even reporting a shortage of workers with the skills to operate new, state-of-the-art equipment. In an effort to attract workers, Monroe County government will offer certain graduates of Monroe Community College a one-time bonus of $1,500 if they spend one year working at an area manufacturing firm. Other Industries Slowing Too The effects of a slowing national economy have reverberated throughout the regional job market over the past year. For example, job growth in educational and health ser- vices, which has proven to be a consistent source of new jobs in the Rochester area, slowed slightly. Job growth may slow even further in the coming months as area hospi- tals and schools prepare for impending cuts in the state budget. All three major hospital systems -- University of Rochester Medical Center, ViaHealth and Unity Health System -- are bracing for state budget cuts. Looking Ahead Like New York State and the nation as a whole, the Rochester metropolitan area is feeling the impact of a slowing global economy. Although no one knows the dura- tion or severity of the current recession, the Rochester area is dynamic, having weath- ered one of the largest corporate downsiz- ings in recent history. The area’s economy is now much more diverse and better po- sitioned to weather the national economic downturn. n not guarantee success. The purpose of the job interview is to determine “fit.” Most can- didates are eliminated in the first two min- utes because they lack what employers term “presence.” Your job is to help the interviewer see the match between your background and the position being offered. When you interview, it is also important to know what is important to the employer’s hir- ing manager. The table on page 3 lists five key job seeker do’s and five don’ts, contributed by Patrick Reuss, recruiting and staffing leader at SABIC Innovative Plastics. that describes how your prior accomplish- ments, skills and experience will benefit them. It is perfectly acceptable and recommended that you follow-up with a phone call if the employer has not contacted you within a rea- sonable amount of time. Resume guides and other job search tools are available at www. nyjobzone.org. Interviewing is the most important and most neglected part of the job search, according to Dr. Tom Denham, a career counselor at Careers in Transition, LLC in Colonie, NY. The three rules of interviewing are practice, prac- tice, and practice. Being a good talker does New York State Capital District Albany Columbia Greene Rensselaer Saratoga Schenectady Warren Washington Central New York Cayuga Cortland Madison Onondaga Oswego Southern Tier Broome Chemung Chenango Delaware Schuyler Steuben Tioga Tompkins Finger Lakes Genesee Livingston Monroe Ontario Orleans Seneca Wayne Wyoming Yates Western New York Allegany Cattaraugus Chautauqua Erie Niagara Long Island Nassau Suffolk New York City Bronx kings New York Queens Richmond Hudson Valley Dutchess Orange Putnam Rockland Sullivan Ulster Westchester Mohawk Valley Fulton Herkimer Montgomery Oneida Otsego Schoharie North Country Clinton Essex Franklin Hamilton Jefferson Lewis St. Lawrence Job Search Strategies... from page 2 Unemployment Rates in New York State 3 Employment in New York State is pub- lished 12 times a year. For a change of address, write to the Publications Unit at the address below and provide your old, as well as new, address. Division of Research and Statistics New York State Department of Labor Building 12, State Office Campus Albany, N.Y. 12240 Director Peter A. Neenan Editor kevin Jack Director of Communications Leo Rosales Graphic Design Jeff Mosher Labor Publications Supervisor Christine Perham Data Not Seasonally Adjusted NOV ’08 NOV ’08 NOV ’07 NOV ’07 NOV ’08 NOV ’07 4.4 3.9 3.7 3.7 4.7 4.0 3.5 4.0 4.6 3.9 4.1 4.1 4.8 4.1 3.8 5.0 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.6 3.9 4.7 5.2 3.9 3.2 3.8 3.8 4.1 3.3 3.6 5.1 4.3 3.6 4.4 5.1 4.4 5.2 4.2 4.1 5.0 5.3 4.7 5.5 5.6 6.2 5.3 4.5 5.6 4.3 4.6 4.4 4.3 3.9 5.4 4.1 4.5 4.6 3.8 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.4 4.4 5.1 3.7 3.6 3.7 5.0 6.7 5.4 4.3 4.5 4.5 5.9 5.3 5.1 5.1 6.7 5.4 4.9 5.3 7.0 5.8 6.1 6.3 7.2 5.9 5.7 7.4 5.9 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.1 6.4 6.8 5.7 4.3 5.4 5.5 5.7 4.6 5.1 7.4 5.7 5.2 6.3 7.4 6.4 7.2 5.9 5.8 6.5 7.4 6.9 7.8 7.5 8.4 7.5 6.9 7.7 5.9 6.2 6.1 5.8 5.6 7.1 5.8 6.3 6.8 5.1 6.3 6.6 6.6 6.1 6.0 7.1 5.2 5.1 5.4 6.2 8.3 6.6 5.6 5.6 5.5 http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workforceindustrydata/enys_index.shtm 1. employer’s name; 2. contact person; 3. address, phone, email, web site and fax; 4. date resume sent; 5. date of follow-up phone call; 6. date of first interview; 7. date of second interview; 8. date thank you letter sent; 9. job offer yes/no. It is important to develop a record-keeping system that works for you. The culmination of a successful job search is receiving an offer. Before accepting, however, you should thoughtfully weigh such impor- tant factors as the job content, your supervi- sor, training, advancement, prestige, salary, location and benefits. Conclusion Looking for work is a full-time job. Job seeking during tough economic times can be particularly stressful, but following these strategies and stay- ing optimistic will help. If you need professional assistance, here are some sources: One-Stop Career Centers, local schools and community colleges, libraries, non-profit organizations and privately-run career counseling firms. Remem- ber, even in difficult times, new and exciting jobs become available each day. For a more in-depth discussion of job search tips visit: www.labor.state.ny.us/workforce industrydata/jobsearch.shtm. n by Christopher Myers, Victoria Gray, and Kevin Jack Within 24-48 hours after the interview, send a customized thank you letter. Only about 10 percent of candidates ever do this, but it can sometimes give you an edge over the com- petition. You will also need patience since the job search often takes much longer than you might expect. If the employer has not called you when they say they would, it is acceptable to contact them. You can reiterate your inter- est and see how the process is coming along. Depending on your situation and salary expec- tations, finding a job can take on average three to nine months. Your search is more like a mara- thon than a sprint. Along the way, make sure your plan is flexible. Periodically reassess how you are doing and what activities are effective. Dr. Denham suggests that you create an ex- haustive list in a spreadsheet that includes the following nine items: Hiring Manager’s List of Job Seeker Do’s and Don’ts Do: Don’t: Craft a great resume Fabricate resume items Research the organization Come unprepared for the interview Develop an elevator speech Fail to ask questions Be confident Come across as arrogant Sell yourself Provide rehearsed answers Source: Patrick Reuss, SABIC Innovative Plastics New York State Department of Labor Division of Research and Statistics W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus Albany, New York 12240 OFFICIAL BUSINESS FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID Albany, NY Permit No. 365 RS-2 The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Division of Research and Statistics, New York State Department of Labor REGIONAL ANALYSTS’ CORNER WESTERN NY CAPITAL DISTRICT James Ross -- 518-462-7600 From November 2007 to November 2008, private sector jobs in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area fell 500, or 0.1 percent, to 344,200. Job gains were concentrated in educational and health services (+1,800) and professional and business services (+500). Losses were greatest in trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500) and natural resources, mining and construction (-600). CENTRAL NY Roger Evans -- 315-479-3388 For the 12-month period ending November 2008, the private sector job count in the Syracuse met- ro area fell 500, or 0.2 percent, to 269,500. Job growth was concentrated in educational and health services (+300) and natural resources, min- ing and construction (+200). The largest job losses occurred in manufacturing (-500) and trade, trans- portation and utilities (-400). FINGER LAkES Tammy Marino -- 585-258-8870 Private sector employment in the Rochester metro area declined over the year by 4,200, or 1.0 percent, to 435,000 in November 2008. Job gains occurred in educational and health services (+1,700). Losses were greatest in manufacturing (-2,700), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500) and profes- sional and business services (-800). HUDSON VALLEY John Nelson -- 914-997-8798 Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley decreased by 500, or 0.1 percent, to 764,300 for the 12-month period ending November 2008. Job gains were focused in educational and health ser- vices (+2,600) and natural resources, mining and construction (+700). Losses were largest in trade, transportation and utilities (-1,600), manufacturing (-1,500) and financial activities (-800). LONG ISLAND Gary Huth -- 516-934-8533 The private sector job count on Long Island de- clined over the year by 7,100, or 0.7 percent, to 1,073,800 in November 2008. Gains occurred in educational and health services (+3,300) and other services (+400). The largest losses were in manufacturing (-2,700), trade, transportation and utilities (-2,500), financial activities (-2,200) and professional and business services (-1,700). MOHAWk VALLEY Mark Barbano -- 315-793-2282 For the 12-month period ending November 2008, the private sector job count in the Utica-Rome met- ro area decreased 1,000, or 1.0 percent, to 99,500. Small job gains were experienced in educational and health services and information. Losses were greatest in financial activities (-400) and manufac- turing (-400). NEW YORk CITY James Brown -- 212-775-3330 Private sector employment in New York City fell by 17,100, or 0.5 percent, to 3,226,900 for the 12- month period ending November 2008. Job gains were greatest in educational and health services (+6,300), leisure and hospitality (+2,700) and in- formation (+2,300). Financial activities (-16,400), manufacturing (-6,200) and professional and busi- ness services (-3,500) lost the most jobs over the year. NORTH COUNTRY Alan Beideck -- 518-891-6680 Private sector employment in the North Country fell over the year by 300, or 0.3 percent, to 117,600 in November 2008. Gains were reported in trade, transportation and utilities (+300) and educational and health services (+200). Job losses were con- centrated in manufacturing (-500), other services (-300) and financial activities (-200). SOUTHERN TIER Christian Harris -- 607-741-4485 Private sector employment in the Southern Tier declined over the year by 2,100, or 0.9 percent, to 240,400 in November 2008. Job gains were largest in educational and health services (+900). Job losses were heaviest in manufacturing (-900), trade, transportation and utilities (-900) and lei- sure and hospitality (-500). WESTERN NY John Slenker -- 716-851-2742 Private sector employment in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area decreased by 4,700, or 1.0 percent, to 454,900 over the 12 months ending November 2008. Job gains were centered in leisure and hospi- tality (+2,200) and financial activities (+1,200). Losses occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (-3,200), natural resources, mining and construction (-2,200) and manufacturing (-2,000). fINGER LAkES SOuTHERN TIER NEW YORk CITY LONG ISLAND HuDSON VALLEY NORTH COuNTRY CENTRAL NY MOHAWk VALLEY CAPITAL DISTRICT