ALBANY – Jobs in the private sector increased by 5,800 year over year in March throughout the Hudson Valley, according to the latest statistics released by the State Department of Labor.

Labor Market Analyst Johny Nelson reported Thursday jobs rose to 841,300, which was the highest March employment count on record dating back to 2000.

Nelson said gains were centered in private education and health services (+10,400), professional and business services (+500) and financial activities (+300) while employment losses were focused in trade, transportation and utilities (-3,000), leisure and hospitality (-1,300), mining, logging and construction (-700) and information (-300).

Within the region, Sullivan County’s private employment sector grew the fastest year-over-year, up 4.9 percent.  Ulster County experienced the second highest growth at 2.4 percent, while Westchester County saw an increase of 1.4 percent. 

Nelson noted that some areas were less fortunate, with job losses concentrated in Putnam County (down 0.9 percent), Rockland County (down 0.8 percent), and the Orange-Dutchess County region (down 0.3 percent).