Economy

A Profile of Agriculture in New York State

Farming in New York plays a critical role, both as an economic engine for communities and as an essential part of our food supply system. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of farming across upstate New York, Long Island and New York City, including an analysis of State programs and tax benefits for farmers.

New York’s Social Insurance Programs: Benchmarking Benefits

The benefits from four major social insurance programs provide crucial financial support during difficult times in the lives of hundreds of thousands New York workers and their families each year. This report analyzes benefits provided for representative workers under unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, temporary disability insurance and paid family leave. 

Local Sales Tax Collections Increased by 1.4 Percent in the Third Quarter of 2024

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.98 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2024, up 1.4 percent (or $82.7 million) compared to the same quarter last year. Statewide local collections this past quarter continued a general trend of declining growth that followed a post-pandemic spike. In fact, the third quarter’s 1.4 percent growth was the lowest quarterly year-over-year increase following the pandemic-induced declines.

Where New Yorkers Work: An Analysis of Industries and Occupations in New York

The State’s employment picture has changed in significant ways since 2000 with the health care and social assistance industry increasing its share of total employment as manufacturing and financial activities shrank. Since the pandemic, the State has taken longer than the nation to regain the jobs lost; the nation fully recovered by June 2022, while for New York, recovery did not occur until April 2024. Despite the relatively slow employment recovery, growth in wages paid to workers has outpaced inflation.

An Economic Snapshot of Coney Island and Brighton Beach

Brooklyn’s Coney Island and Brighton Beach have earned global reputations as destinations, but the dramatic rise in jobs over the past decade is less well known. Despite the pandemic, there were 35,203 jobs in Coney Island and Brighton Beach in 2023, a 101% increase from a decade earlier. The area is home to one of the largest populations of individuals 65 and over among neighborhoods citywide, and recent economic growth has been tied to serving this population.

The Cost of Living in New York City: Transportation

Transportation costs for households in the New York City metropolitan area grew by about 56% between 2012-13 and 2022-23, less than in the Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Transportation made up the second largest cost for New Yorkers, behind housing. It remains critical to maintain MTA service at affordable levels, so that transportation costs remain relatively affordable and offset housing costs, especially for lower- and middle-income households.

Economic Impact: Higher Education

Higher education institutions provide tremendous value to New York’s local economies and the State’s overall economic health through employment, wages, student spending, and more. The sector employed over 296,000 people in 2023, paying wages of around $26.5 billion, but still has over 13,000 fewer jobs than in 2019. Maintaining a vibrant higher education system is critical to New York’s future.