Binghamton Area Lost Jobs Over Past Year

The number of private sector jobs in the Binghamton labor market fell over the past twelve months while the overall number of jobs in New York state rose.

According to the state Department of Labor, the Binghamton region's job count dropped by two-tenths of a percent between December 2011 and December 2012.

During the same period, the department reported the state gained 34,300 private sector jobs.

Regional labor market analyst Christian Harris told WNBF News that the decrease in private sector employment in the Binghamton area was a continuation of a trend that was occurring in the latter part of the year.

The private education and health sectors of the local economy were among the brighter spots in the latest employment report.

Harris said it appears the region likely will be in a "slow growth" mode this year.

He said there may be fewer layoffs in the government sector this year, although "tough choices" lie ahead to deal with challenges posed by pension costs.

While the Binghamton area showed a slight decline in private sector employment last year, some labor markets demonstrated growth. Ithaca was one of the most rapidly-growing metro areas with the number of private sector jobs rising by 3.5 percent.

Significant job losses in New York state were posted in the construction, manufacturing and government sectors during 2012.