BRONX UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS TO 6.6%

Nearly 100K More Bronxites Working Today Than In May 2009

Bronx job statistics continued to improve this month, according to the latest numbers from the New York State Department of Labor.

The unemployment rate in The Bronx fell to 6.6 percent in September 2015, down from 7.3 percent in August 2015 and 8.7 percent in September 2014. Those same statistics show that the total number of Bronxites who are employed is 565.7 thousand, up from 468.8 thousand in May 2009 when Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. first took office, meaning that nearly 100,000 more borough residents have jobs today than did roughly six years ago.

“Our borough is in the midst of a tremendous revival, and these numbers bear that out,” said Borough President Diaz. “More Bronxites are employed today than at any point since they began keeping such statistics. We are bringing new businesses to our borough, helping our existing businesses expand, and fostering the right climate for growth and development. Those efforts are having a positive effect on our borough and its population, as is clear from these job numbers.”

“Bronx residents are a talented and committed work force that just needed the opportunity to work.  The Bronx businesses that have expanded recently and those that have moved into the borough in the past few years are contributing mightily to this collective effort.  I am gratified by this news,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

The Department of Labor’s complete release can be found at http://on.ny.gov/1LIRRbS.

Since Borough President Diaz took office in 2009, The Bronx has seen more than $7 billion in total development, which has led to the creation of over 15,000 new jobs. In addition, a new partnership announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in August between the New York State Department of Labor and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, as part of the “NY Works,” program is placing Bronx residents in these jobs, helping to ensure that new development here benefits everyone, especially Bronxites.