SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Although the country is still losing jobs—712,000 initial unemployment claims as of November 28—that’s still an improvement. It’s down 75,000, according to the Wall Street Journal. That’s better than the nation’s peak of 7 million this year, but it’s still a lot of people out of work.

So, we see the people waiting for groceries, we hear about nonprofits getting food and help to our community: This tells us people are suffering. 

Here are the numbers for Sullivan County from community resources commissioner Laura Quigley in her monthly report.

The county’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in October. The national rate was 6.9 percent, and New York State’s was 9.2.

In October 2019, Sullivan County’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, the national rate was 3.7 and the state’s was 3.7.

The highest unemployment rate in the state was in the Bronx—17.5 percent in October. Sullivan County ranked 48 out of 62.

Here are some other statistics:

Total non-farm jobs lost, October 2019 compared to October 2020: 1,900

Total private-sector jobs lost: 1,800

Total jobs lost, September 2020 to October 2020: 200 non-farm jobs and 100 private sector jobs

The top three sectors affected:

800 jobs lost were in leisure and hospitality

300 were in trade, transportation, and utilities

300 were in education and health services

“No sector showed job gains,” Quigley wrote.