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- calendar_today November 3, 2026
As New York's workforce continues to adapt to economic realities, official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers important insights into employment and wage changes across the state. The latest available statistics, covering March 2025 to March 2026, highlight diverging trends among New York's counties.www.bls.gov
Employment Levels Decline in Most Large Counties
Of New York's 18 largest counties by employment, 11 saw year-over-year declines between March 2025 and March 2026. Overall state employment fell by 0.3%, reaching 9,743,600. Orange County experienced the steepest drop among these counties, with a -1.9% change, followed by Saratoga (-1.7%), Suffolk (-1.3%), and Westchester (-1.1%). In contrast, a few counties like Kings (+1.4%) and New York County (+0.6%) reported employment growth over the year.www.bls.gov
Statewide and County Wage Growth Outpaces the Nation
While employment was mostly flat or declining, wages grew robustly. Statewide, the average weekly wage rose 6.5% to $2,363—a rate that ranks first among U.S. states for wage growth and second for wage level. All 17 large counties with published wage data recorded over-the-year gains. New York County posted the largest increase at 7.9%. Other notable wage growth included Suffolk (+6.6%), Dutchess (+5.3%), and Nassau (+5.0%).www.bls.gov
Wage Levels Vary Widely by County
New York County had far and away the highest average weekly wage at $4,902, while Kings County saw $1,215 as an average—the lowest among the large counties. Statewide, only four large counties reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,654. In the 44 smaller counties (those with fewer than 75,000 employees in 2025), Steuben posted the highest average weekly wage at $1,919, whereas Herkimer reported the lowest at $993.www.bls.gov
Among all 62 New York counties, the distribution of average weekly wages remained uneven: 14 counties reported wages under $1,125; 12 counties each fell into the ranges $1,125–$1,224, $1,225–$1,324, or $1,325–$1,424; and 13 counties reported average weekly wages of $1,425 or higher.www.bls.gov
In summary, New York's most recent county-level labor statistics show moderate declines in employment in most of the largest counties but notable growth in wages across virtually the entire state. These findings reflect both the resilience and ongoing disparities in New York's regional labor markets.
