Sullivan County is seeing some good economic news lately. According to data released last week by the New York State Department of Labor, Sullivan County leads the state in job growth.

As recently reported in the Democrat, The Department’s monthly report shows Sullivan County’s private-sector job growth rate at 9.1 percent year-over-year for the month of September 2022, outpacing Allegany County’s 8.8 percent and New York City’s 6.8 percent and far exceeding neighboring mid-Hudson counties.

Data from the State Labor Department data indicates information services and the leisure and hospitality sectors are leading the local job growth. Other areas of significant job growth include manufacturing and goods-producing.

This is good news for a county that is still climbing back from the economic tumult of the COVID-19 Pandemic that decimated many businesses. The pandemic especially impacted the tourism and hospitality industries. 

We can see positive economic signs in other places around Sullivan County. A new Old Navy department store is anticipated to open at the former Staples office supplies location. The new 17 West Brewery will hold a ribbon cutting this month at the former Last Licks sandwich shop on Sullivan Avenue in Liberty. In recent months, planning boards in Liberty and Thompson have advanced large warehouse projects. Liberty hopes their warehouse project can increase tax ratables and spur further development along  the Old Route 17 industrial commercial corridor. 

Taken together, this all creates a larger tax base, provides employment opportunities and encourages even further investment. 

While the job numbers are positive news, wage growth continues to be impacted by rising inflation and the increasing costs of everything from healthcare to home heating. We must do more to not only attract more jobs but also attract the type of higher-paying industry jobs that allow people to support a family and save for the future.