New York City continues to struggle with unemployment

The United States is adding more and more jobs, but apparently not as fast as New York is.

Federal job growth was up nearly 6 percent in July compared to the year before, adding nearly 7 million private sector positions. Across New York, however, more than 490,000 new jobs accounted for a stronger 7 percent uptick.

That has brought New York’s unemployment rate to 7.6 percent, according to the state’s labor department. It’s still significantly higher than the federal unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, but apparently New York City is to blame.

Jobless rates in the five boroughs remained above 10 percent, while the rest of the state was half that amount. While the city added 260,000 jobs compared to last year, it only brought its unemployment rate down slightly.

Still, New York City had one of the state’s largest increases in new jobs, growing at just under 8 percent. That kept pace with other areas like Westchester and Rockland counties, Rochester, and Glens Falls.

But no area seems to be adding jobs at a faster rate than Buffalo. There, its 41,600 new jobs in July was enough to grow its employment base by more than 10 percent.

Good financial news at BJ’s means bonuses for all

BJ’s Wholesale Club, which operates a Kingsbridge warehouse store location at 184 W. 237th St., has doled out more than $8 million in bonuses for its employees across the country.

Full-timers earned an extra $300, while part-timers got $150.

The news comes as sales for the chain climbed slightly over the last three months to $4.1 billion, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, while profits stayed at just under $136 million.

Originally published Sept. 2, 2021