While the service sector in the New York metropolitan area began showing positive signs for the first time in 13 months in April, the regional unemployment rate continues to challenge communities across the Empire State.
The state Department of Labor reported this week that the unemployment rate across all but three regions in the state remains at or above the national average of 6%.
Meanwhile, New York City's current unemployment rate of 11.2% is nearly thrice the unemployment rate of the city in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, when it was a mere 4.2%.
Government-mandated restrictions across New York and a change in consumer habits doubled the unemployment rate in the state's metro areas from 4.3% in March 2020 to 8.6% last month.