Rockland has lowest unemployment rate in the Hudson Valley

COUNTY PRESS RELEASE – Rockland County Executive Ed Day is proud to announce the latest New York unemployment figures, which show that the county has the lowest rate in the Hudson Valley and among the lowest in the state.

Rockland’s unemployment rate in January was 4.3 percent, according to the state Department of Labor.

That is 25 percent less than it was in January 2014, when the County Executive took office.

Under Day’s leadership, the county has cut government spending 9 percent, reduced the size of county government 22 percent and kept tax increases to a minimum.

“We have worked hard over the last three years to create an atmosphere where businesses thrive,” the County Executive said. “Businesses want to be here, they want to grow here. Our policies are working.”

He noted that numerous new companies have moved to Rockland over the past three years. They include Warby-Parker, which is adding 128 jobs at its new manufacturing facility in Sloatsburg, Urban Electric Power, a new company located on the grounds of the old Pfizer property in Pearl River and Golden Krust, which is investing $37 million in a world headquarters in Orangetown.

The retail and service sectors are also strong, with the Shops at Nanuet and the Time Hotel in Nyack opening and thriving, Day noted.

“By bringing businesses to Rockland, we form a strong economic foundation that stems the tide of increasing property taxes, and, in turn, encourages other businesses to locate here,” the County Executive said.

The county will continue to work collaboratively with the Rockland Economic Development Corp., Empire State Development, the towns, the Chambers of Commerce and the Rockland Business Association to make sure that clean, responsible businesses remain in Rockland.

According to the latest report of the New York State Labor Department, the Hudson Valley Region unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in January. Among the seven counties in the region, Rockland County had the lowest unemployment rate in January 2017, according to the state.
• Rockland County 4.3 percent
• Putnam County 4.4 percent
• Dutchess County 4.5 percent
• Orange County 4.5 percent
• Westchester County 4.5 percent
• Ulster County 5.0 percent
• Sullivan County 5.3 percent