NYC Loses 23,000 Private Jobs in September
A city comptroller report found New York City's private-sector employment declined sharply in September, extending losses from August.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Employment
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New York City lost 23,000 private-sector jobs in September 2026, after losing 7,400 in August, according to a report released October 22, 2026 by Comptroller Mark Levine. Finance, information, and leisure and hospitality sectors all shed jobs, while healthcare and social assistance added positions.
Why it matters
The losses come as city inflation reached 4.5% over the past year and rents rose more than 5%, placing pressure on household budgets. Excluding healthcare and social assistance, private employment fell 32,000 over the 12 months ending in September.
The city comptroller's employment report shows 23,000 private-sector jobs lost in September compared with 7,400 in August, with leisure and hospitality down 17,000 over the past year. The report does not say whether the losses will continue in coming months.
The players
Mark Levine
Mark Levine is the New York City Comptroller, the city official responsible for auditing city finances and publishing economic reports.
The details
Finance employment fell by 5,800 jobs and the information sector lost 1,700 in September, while leisure and hospitality declined by 7,700. Healthcare and social assistance added jobs during the same period. Nationally, the private sector added 46,000 jobs in September, though downward revisions to July and August removed 70,000.
Timeline
August 2026: New York City lost 7,400 private-sector jobs.
September 2026: New York City lost 23,000 private-sector jobs.
October 22, 2026: Comptroller Mark Levine released the employment report.
Economic Trend
The monthly September losses extend the year-long contraction in private employment outside healthcare, which the comptroller's report puts at 32,000 jobs over 12 months. Healthcare and social assistance hiring is the only sector in the report shown adding jobs over that stretch.
Rents in New York City rose more than 5% and inflation reached 4.5% over the past year, raising monthly costs for households. Residents working in finance, information, or leisure and hospitality face more uncertainty about job availability in the sectors where losses were concentrated.
The takeaway
Monitoring monthly employment reports and local rent changes can help New York City households plan budgets and job searches. Sector-level data shows where losses are concentrated, which may guide decisions about training or career moves.
Further reading
For broader context on local hiring trends, see Employment coverage for New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BKReader.
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