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 by Charles McKeon, Senior Economist and Steven Koczak, PhD, Research Specialist
The U.S. Census Bureau’s best-known product is its decennial count of population and housing, conducted every ten years in years ending in "0." As the only data product mandated by the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 3), it plays a crucial role in determining congressional representation and allocating federal funds.
While the decennial census gets the bulk of the public’s attention, the U.S. Census Bureau compiles and publishes around 130 data products, including 2.5 million data tables, maps, profiles, and more. Together with other government data series (e.g., job estimates produced by the New York State Department of Labor) these products inform policymakers, businesses, jobseekers and the general public about the state of the economy and the people.
Here, we highlight three lesser-known, but still immensely useful, data products from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Community Resilience Estimates
Did you know that the Census Bureau measures a neighborhood’s vulnerability to the effects of natural disasters? The Bureau’s Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) are a gauge of the capacity of individuals and households in a particular community to prepare for and recover from a disaster. The CRE series provides a metric for assessing critical vulnerabilities within local areas to help with preparations for disasters. These data are particularly timely given that natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more costly due to factors like climate change.
The CRE program provides annual indexes for many areas, from the nation down to individual neighborhoods, according to the percentage of people possessing a certain number of components (up to 10) of vulnerability. These data, which are drawn primarily from the American Community Survey, include:
- Income to poverty ratio of under 130%
- The presence of “single or zero caregiver” households
- Unit-level crowding (more than .75 persons/room)
- Communication barriers (households with limited English proficiency or with no members having a HS diploma)
- Households without full-time, year-round employment
- Disabilities that constrain major life activities
- Lack of health insurance coverage
- Age 65+
- No vehicle access
- Households without broadband internet access
Individuals are classified as having 0 components, 1-2 components, or 3 or more components of vulnerability. Communities are then analyzed and classified by the percentage of individuals within them that are in each category. For some CRE products, the specifics of each type of disaster are also considered.
CRE data are available in various formats. These include an interactive tool, a vulnerability map, Excel downloads and ranking tables. The ranking tables use information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to connect CRE data to specific types of disasters.
In New York State, these are the counties — mostly in New York City — with the highest shares of their population with 3 or more components of vulnerability:
- Bronx County, 42.5%
- Kings County, 32.5%
- New York County, 32.4%
- Queens County, 30.6%
- Yates County, 30.4%
After these top five, no county in New York State has more than 30%. Bronx County ranks #20 in the U.S. by this metric. It is outranked in disaster vulnerability by various counties in Alaska, South Dakota, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Arizona and New Mexico.
Looking at the rankings for specific types of disaster, counties in New York State don’t appear often in the rankings. Kings, New York and Queens counties all make the top 25 in the country for vulnerability to earthquakes (and are all at “Relatively Moderate” risk); Bronx County for flooding (at “Relatively High” risk); Bronx, Kings, New York and Queens for hurricanes (all at “Relatively Moderate” risk); Bronx for strong winds (at “Very High” risk); and Bronx for winter weather (at “Relatively Moderate” risk). No county in New York State makes the rankings for wildfires.
Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
Another Census dataset that people will find interesting — especially parents of college students — is Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). The PSEO series provides earnings and employment outcomes of college graduates by degree level, college major and post-secondary institution. These data are especially useful when making important decisions regarding colleges and degree programs. PSEO is one of the many data products offered under the umbrella of the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, which combines Census Bureau administrative and survey data with state wage records and employer data.
The PSEO data come with a powerful visualization tool, called PSEO Explorer, that allows users to filter data by educational institution, field of study, employment outcomes at 1, 5 and 10 years after graduation, geography, industry of post-graduation employment and more.
In New York State, PSEO data are available for colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) systems, which include about 44% of all graduates in the state. Availability of these data are based on an institution’s participation in a data sharing agreement to provide transcript information with the Census Bureau.
PSEO data tell us, for example, that the median earnings of UAlbany engineering graduates from 2016 through 2018 was $66,169, while graduates at the 75th earnings percentile made $79,568. The data also show that most of these graduates were employed in either manufacturing or professional services, and nearly all worked in New York State.
Quarterly Workforce Indicators
One final example of a useful, but lesser-known Census data series is Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI), which is also an LEHD program. QWI draws from the following data components, among others:
- Unemployment Insurance (UI) earnings
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
- Business Dynamics Statistics (BDS)
- Various demographic or administrative data sources, such as UI, tax data and decennial censuses
These datasets are linked using various methods. For example:
- BDS and QCEW are linked using federal Employer Identification Number
- QCEW and UI data are linked using UI account number
- UI data and various demographic data are linked using encoded Social Security numbers
The earliest QWI data date to 1990, and the earliest available data for New York State are from 2000. QWI releases are quarterly and lag 3 quarters behind the quarter of release. So, for example, the data for the first quarter of 2024 were released in the fourth quarter for that year.
As a demonstration, let’s consider the characteristics of workers employed in the state’s Food Manufacturing industry (NAICS 311). QWI data tell us about their sex, age, race, ethnicity and educational attainment.
In 2023 (last full year of data available), there were about 59,250 workers employed at privately owned Food Manufacturing companies in New York State. This represented a 7.8% increase over 2021’s employment level. The industry’s workforce can be analyzed by sex:
- 60.5% were male
- 39.5% were female
And by race and ethnicity:
- 76.2% were White
- 12.2% were Black or African American
- 8.0% were Asian
- 2.3% were two or more races
- 1.1% were American Indian or Alaska Native
- 0.3% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
- 79.5% were not Hispanic or Latino
- 20.5% were Hispanic or Latino
And by age:
- 61.3% were 25-54 years old ("prime working age" group)
- 26.8% were 55 years or older
- 11.9% were less than 25 years old
And by educational attainment:
- 26.0% were high school graduates (no college)
- 25.4% had some college or an associate’s degree
- 20.4% possessed a bachelor’s degree or higher
- 16.3% had less than high school
- For 11.9% of these workers, typically those aged 24 or younger, educational attainment data were not available
Concluding Remarks
The CRE, PSEO and QWI are just three of the many lesser-known data products that the U.S. Census Bureau has to offer. Their website has a section called “Data Gems,” which offers tutorials on how to use their data products as well as related webinars and trainings.
The New York State Data Center (NYSDC) has access to and detailed knowledge of many Census Bureau products. The NYSDC is part of the New York State Department of Labor and operates as a part of a nationwide effort to improve public access to and understanding of Census Bureau data. The NYSDC can answer more demographic questions than you probably thought, thanks to these and other lesser-known data products and datasets available from the Census Bureau.
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“Clearly, the leisure and hospitality sector will help to drive regional job growth in the years ahead.”
by Kurt Meichtry, Senior Economist, Finger Lakes region
The Finger Lakes region has long been known for its stunning landscapes, sprawling vineyards and lively tourism scene. Across the region, a thriving leisure and hospitality sector (NAICS industries 71 and 72) supports jobs and helps drive economic growth. The leisure and hospitality (L&H) sector spans a broad array of industries, including accommodation (hotels, inns and campgrounds), food services (restaurants and bars), and arts, entertainment and recreation (museums, amusement parks and recreational facilities).
Designated as a priority by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, the L&H sector provides jobs for tens of thousands of people in the region. Picture seasonal workers at Seabreeze Amusement Park welcoming families or winery chefs plating local flavors — these are a few of the workers driving this vital sector.
A Robust Recovery and Economic Impact
According to the latest data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, the Finger Lakes’ L&H sector employed just under 54,000 in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024). This represented a 37% increase from the corresponding quarter in 2020, when the sector employed just over 39,300.
Helping to boost the recovery from 2020’s economic downturn has been the state’s $450 million “Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs” package, with grants and marketing efforts lifting businesses like amusement parks and local wineries. A November 2024 workforce development grant for $1.07 million, including $300,000 for Foodlink’s culinary apprenticeships, is equipping workers for continued growth.
Who Is Working in the L&H Sector?
Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722) accounted for 71% of sector employment in Q3 2024, with more than 38,300 jobs. From lakeside cafes to winery eateries, this industry was powered by the region’s lively dining scene.
Meanwhile, the arts, entertainment and recreation industry (NAICS 71), with just over 9,200 jobs (17% share), thrives on summer crowds at attractions like Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park, which has announced it will hire 1,500 seasonal workers in 2025. Additionally, the accommodation sector (NAICS 721) contributed about 4,200 jobs in Q3 2024, driven by hotels and resorts catering to tourists.
L&H sector wages have experienced significant growth over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2023, total annual wages rose from $771.9 million to $1.29 billion — a 66% increase. These gains were fueled in part by recent hikes in New York State’s minimum wage.
There is a heavy reliance on younger workers in the region’s leisure and hospitality sector, especially during the summer months. In the third quarter of 2023, for example, 59.9% of local sector jobs were held by workers under 35 — 16.1% teens, 14.8% aged 19-21, 9.0% aged 22-24 and 20.0% aged 25-34 — according to data extracted from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Workforce Indicators (see this month’s lead article for additional information). Only 38.2% of the region’s private sector workforce was under age 35 that quarter.
The L&H sector’s economic significance extends beyond employment. In 2024, it contributed $2.9 billion to the region’s Gross Regional Product (GRP), according to data analytics firm Lightcast. GRP measures the total value added in the production of goods and services, and this substantial contribution generates positive ripple effects, benefiting businesses and communities throughout the Finger Lakes region.
Attracting Visitors
Tourism fuels the leisure and hospitality sector, transforming the region’s natural beauty and cultural treasures into jobs. The Finger Lakes region attracts visitors from around the globe with offerings like:
- Golfing at top-tier courses
- Enjoying Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park
- Marveling at the Strong Museum of Play’s interactive exhibits
- Catching a Rochester Red Wings baseball game
- Boating on the region’s namesake lakes
- Hiking Letchworth State Park’s trails
In 2023, direct visitor spending in the region reached nearly $2.4 billion, driven by food and beverage ($871.8 million) and lodging ($691.7 million), per consulting firm Tourism Economics. The region’s 130+ wineries have helped to make the Finger Lakes, recently voted the nation’s seventh-best wine region in a USA Today readers’ survey, a renowned wine destination.
Projects like the Strong Museum’s 90,000-square-foot expansion, targeting nearly 1 million annual visitors, and the Sibley Square redevelopment, sustaining nearly 200 businesses, further boost demand for workers in exhibits, retail, and food service at places like the Mercantile. Similarly, proposed projects like a new Seneca Lake hotel and restaurant development highlight the region’s push to expand this sector.
Growth Ahead
The State Department of Labor projects employment in the region’s accommodation and food services and arts, entertainment and recreation industry groups will grow annually by 6.9% and 8.2%, respectively, between 2020 and 2030. These growth rates far outpace those projected for the region’s overall job count (+2.2%).
Leisure and hospitality, with travel and tourism at its heart, continues to thrive, supporting thousands of jobs and blending economic growth with the region’s natural allure. Clearly, the leisure and hospitality sector will help to drive regional job growth in the years ahead.
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 In March 2025, New York State’s seasonally adjusted private sector job count increased over the month by 5,600, or 0.1%, to 8,464,400. In addition, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.3% to 4.2% in March 2025, while New York’s seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate held steady at 60.9%.
Capital
Over the past year, the private sector job count in the Capital Region rose by 2,800, or 0.6%, to 433,800 in March 2025. Employment gains were greatest in the following sectors:
- professional and business services (+1,900)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+1,100)
- natural resources, mining and construction (+800)
- leisure and hospitality (+600)
- other services (+500)
Over-the-year job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- education and health services (-1,600)
- information (-400)
- manufacturing (-300)
Central NY
The number of private sector jobs in the Syracuse metro area increased over the past year by 5,300, or 2.1%, to 255,500 in March 2025. The largest job gains occurred in these sectors:
- professional and business services (+1,500)
- leisure and hospitality (+1,400)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+1,400)
- natural resources, mining and construction (+900)
- education and health services (+800)
Job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- manufacturing (-600)
- information (-200)
Finger Lakes
From March 2024 to March 2025, the number of private sector jobs in the Rochester metro area rose by 5,300, or 1.2%, to 440,100. Job gains occurred in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+2,600)
- professional and business services (+1,300)
- natural resources, mining and construction (+1,100)
- leisure and hospitality (+1,000)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+300)
Over-the-year job losses were greatest in the following sectors:
- manufacturing (-500)
- information (-400)
Hudson Valley
Over the past year, the number of private sector jobs in the Hudson Valley grew by 7,300, or 0.9%, to 825,100 in March 2025. The largest job gains occurred in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+4,600)
- leisure and hospitality (+1,800)
- professional and business services (+900)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+800)
- manufacturing (+600)
- financial activities (+500)
Job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- natural resources, mining and construction (-1,400)
- information (-900)
Long Island
From March 2024 to March 2025, private sector jobs on Long Island increased by 9,500, or 0.8%, to 1,152,200. Employment gains were greatest in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+12,300)
- other services (+1,500)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+1,400)
- leisure and hospitality (+1,000)
Over-the-year job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- natural resources, mining and construction (-3,100)
- financial activities (-1,600)
- information (-1,300)
- professional and business services (-900)
Mohawk Valley
For the 12-month period ending March 2025, the number of private sector jobs in the Mohawk Valley region decreased by 700, or 0.5%, to 139,200. The following sector had the largest over-the-year employment gain:
- trade, transportation and utilities (+300)
Over-the-year job losses were largest in the following sectors:
- manufacturing (-600)
- natural resources, mining and construction (-200)
- professional and business services (-200)
New York City
New York City’s private sector job count rose over the past year by 60,800, or 1.5%, to 4,220,600 in March 2025. Over-the-year job gains were largest in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+61,000)
- professional and business services (+4,500)
- information (+1,100)
- other services (+600)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+600)
Job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- leisure and hospitality (-3,200)
- natural resources, mining and construction (-2,900)
- manufacturing (-1,100)
North Country
The number of private sector jobs in the North Country region decreased over the past year by 200, or 0.2%, to 104,700 in March 2025. Over-the-year employment gains were largest in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+200)
- leisure and hospitality (+200)
Job losses were greatest in the following sectors:
- manufacturing (-200)
- trade, transportation and utilities (-200)
Southern Tier
For the 12-month period ending March 2025, the number of private sector jobs in the Southern Tier region decreased by 400, or 0.2%, to 206,200. The largest job gains occurred in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+300)
- leisure and hospitality (+300)
- natural resources, mining and construction (+300)
Job losses occurred in the following sectors:
- manufacturing (-800)
- financial activities (-200)
- information (-200)
- trade, transportation and utilities (-200)
Western NY
Over the past 12 months, the number of private sector jobs in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls metro area rose by 1,900, or 0.4%, to 464,500 in March 2025. Over-the-year job gains occurred in the following sectors:
- education and health services (+1,900)
- trade, transportation and utilities (+1,100)
- leisure and hospitality (+700)
- natural resources, mining and construction (+200)
These sectors experienced the largest over-the-year employment losses:
- manufacturing (-1,100)
- financial activities (-600)
- information (-200)
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