By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
The CNY economy is headed in the right direction, according to Okoye Davis, public information specialist with the New York State Department of Labor in Albany.
“The Central New York economy is seeing increasing demand for workers across many diverse industries and occupations,” he said. “Specifically, the region is experiencing growth in several high-tech sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology and unmanned aerial vehicles.”
The factors related to this growth include the retiring baby boomers leaving the labor force, growth in healthcare and social assistance to meet the increasing needs of aging boomers and educational services for meeting the growth in the healthcare sector. Davis also noted that the Micron construction and I-81projects have also created more opportunities for the next decade in CNY.
The construction industry includes tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and HVAC mechanics and installers, many of whom can receive paid apprenticeships at no cost to them.
“The large Interstate 81 road construction project is generating many local jobs across a wide range of trades including construction laborers projected to grow at a 6.4% rate and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 7.3% over the next several years,” Davis said. “Construction of the Micron Technology semiconductor manufacturing facility in Onondaga County is also creating thousands of job opportunities that will continue over the next two decades.
“Additionally, retirements among baby boomers will open up further job opportunities in this industry over the next decade. The specialty trade contractors sector paid a particularly high annual average wage of $86,200 in 2025, the second highest on the significant industries list.”
In advanced manufacturing, defense contracts and the Micron Technology semiconductor manufacturing is increasing demand for these skilled positions.
“Computer and electronic product manufacturing paid the highest annual average wage among all significant industries in 2025, at $117,500 and employment in the sector is projected to grow by over 60% through 2032, making it the fastest-growing industry in the region,” Davis said. “Typical occupations include electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers (23.9% growth rate); software developers (N/A); and industrial engineers (20%).”
Education is the sector that employs more people — 47,800 — than any other major industry across CNY, including schools, colleges and training institutions.
“Demand is strong in the sector as baby boomers retire and not as many students pursue the teaching field,” Davis said. “The most common job titles in this industry are teaching assistants (18.2% growth rate), elementary school teachers (18.9%) and secondary school teachers (19%). Teaching specialties in demand include science, math, English as a second language, special education, technology and foreign languages.”
The payrate received in the Central New York area depends upon the level at which a teacher is instructing, ranging from preschool teachers averaging $38,330 to elementary school and physical education teachers, who can bring in more than $100,000 annually.
During the pandemic, 20% of healthcare and social assistance workers left the field, exacerbating an existing shortage.
“These two industries employ many people (32,700 jobs, or 9.5% of all jobs in the region in 2025), added jobs between 2020 and 2025, and are expected to continue to grow through 2032 as demand for elder care services rises,” Davis said.
He cited as examples of common and growing occupations in ambulatory health care services including home health and personal care aides (33.7% growth rate), registered nurses (21.6%) and medical assistants (28.8%).
Ambulatory health care services employs 18,500 people in CNY’s private sector and paid an average annual wage of $83,200 in 2025.
“As Central New York’s population ages, demand for nearly all health care occupations is expected to grow over the next decade,” Davis said.
