Construction Sector Tops Jobs Generator
In Hudson Valley in the Past Year: Report
ALBANY—The latest data released by the New York State Department of Labor showed that the construction industry in the Hudson Valley is growing. The New York State Department of Labor reported that for the 12-month period that ended May 2026, the mining, logging and construction sector grew by 3,000 jobs.
Year-over-year in May 2026, the mining, logging and construction sector climbed 5.0%, to reach 62,600—a record high for the month in the Hudson Valley since records have been kept dating back to 2000. That sector was the top jobs producer, fueling a 9,400-job increase in the Hudson Valley private sector. The 1.1% increase brought the private sector job count in the Hudson Valley to a record 862,700.
Other job growth industries in the Hudson Valley were: private education and health services (+2,900), financial activities (+900), leisure and hospitality (+900), trade, transportation and utilities (+800), professional and business services (+500) and other services (+400).
Within the region, Rockland County’s private employment sector grew the fastest year-over-year, up 3.2%. The second-fastest growth was recorded in Sullivan County (+3.1%), followed by Westchester County (+1.6%) and the Kingston MSA (+0.2%). Meanwhile, job losses were centered in the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh MSA (-0.8%). Putnam County’s private employment totals were unchanged over the 12-month period.
The May 2026 unemployment rate for the Hudson Valley region was 3.6%. That was up from 3.4% in April 2026 and up from 3.0% in May 2025. In May 2026, there were 44,500 unemployed in the region, up from 41,700 in April 2026 and up from 37,100 in May 2025. Year-over-year in May 2026, the labor force increased by 13,500, or 1.1%, to 1,232,400.
The Hudson Valley region’s May 2026 unemployment rate was tied with the Capital Region for the second-lowest rate among the 10 labor market regions in New York State. In May 2026, the lowest unemployment rate within the Hudson Valley (3.3%) was recorded in Putnam County, followed by Rockland County at 3.4%; Dutchess County at 3.5%; Ulster County at 3.6%; Westchester County at 3.6%; Sullivan County at 3.8%; and Orange County at 4
Published: June 24, 2026.