Department of Labor
Private sector jobs in the Syracuse metro area fell over the year by 57,500, or 22 percent, to 203,700 in April 2020. Job losses occurred in leisure and hospitality (-18,300), trade, transportation and utilities (-14,600), educational and health services (-6,900), professional and business services (-6,900), natural resources, mining and construction (-3,800), other services (-3,200), manufacturing (-2,900), financial activities (-800) and information (-100). The government job count fell over the year (-2,500), with the largest job losses occurring in local government education.
by Karen Knapik-Scalzo, Associate Economist, Central New York
(Excerpted from the June 2017 issue of the Employment in New York State newsletter)
What are the highest-paying industries in the Central New York region? This is a key question. Pay is one of many factors that people consider when they are looking for a job or pursuing education or training.
Central New York added 1,900 private sector jobs over the year ending April 2017. As the local economy continues to expand, job opportunities will be created at various pay levels.
This article examines some of the region's highest-paying private sector industries. The analysis is limited to 4-digit NAICS industries with at least 500 workers. It used data covering the fourth quarter of 2015 through the third quarter of 2016. The region's overall private sector annual wage was $46,200 during that period.
Common occupations in Power Generation and Supply include electric power line installers and repairers; customer service representatives; and control and valve installers and repairers. With several nuclear power plants located in Central New York, the region's concentration of nuclear power jobs is about 15 times greater than the national average.
Workers in the Utility System Construction industry are involved in the engineering and construction of oil/gas pipelines and power/communication lines. Common occupations in this industry include: construction laborers; operating engineers; and electric power line installers and repairers.
The Electronic Instruments industry pays an average annual wage of $98,300. It encompasses a number of local high-tech and defense-related companies. Among them is Lockheed Martin, which designs and builds radars, sonars and sensors. Typical job titles include: team and electronic equipment assemblers; software developers; and electrical engineers.
Another high-paying industry is Pharmaceuticals and Medicines. It has an average annual wage of $90,000. One local business in this industry is antibiotic maker Steri-Pharma LLC. The company is in the midst of a $50 million expansion at its Syracuse plant. This growth is expected to create 72 jobs and allow the company to increase production of an antibiotic to fight drug-resistant bacteria. Common occupations include: packaging and filling machine operators; mixing and blending machine setters, operators and tenders; and inspectors and testers.
Beer production at traditional brewers (e.g., Anheuser-Busch) as well as the explosive growth of numerous local craft brewers (e.g., Middle Ages, Humble Harvest) has helped to boost local employment in Beverages. This industry pays an average annual wage of $87,200. Soft drink makers and wineries are also part of this industry. Key jobs run the gamut, from packaging and filling machine operators, to farmworkers and laborers, to industrial machinery mechanics. The Beverage manufacturing industry employs 1,000 people in the region
For more information, please contact:
Karen Knapik-Scalzo
NYS Department of Labor
450 S. Salina St., Room 300
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 479-3391
Fax: (315) 479-3271
E-mail: [email protected]
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