By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

 

If you want to find a job in Central New York after graduation, you have plenty of opportunities.

Karen Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor Division of Research & Statistics in Syracuse, said that numerous segments have shown growth, including private education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

“Significant industries in Central New York include construction, manufacturing, professional and business services, educational services and healthcare,” Knapik-Scalzo said.

She noted that in construction, the I-81 project has created growth for many aspects of the industry, from laborers (6.4% growth rate) to engineers and operators (7.3% increase) for the next few years.

“Construction of the huge Micron Technology semiconductor manufacturing facility in Onondaga County will also create thousands of job opportunities for workers continuing over the next two decades,” Knapik-Scalzo said.

To further expand opportunities for those entering the workforce, the retiring baby boomers will open up slots for new workers for the next 10 years. These are great-paying jobs.

“This heavy and civil engineering construction sector paid a particularly high annual average wage of $109,546 in 2024,” Knapik-Scalzo said.

Historically, Central New York represented a hub of manufacturing in Upstate New York. That industry is coming back to the area — and not just because of Micron.

“An increase in defense-related contracts at local high-tech employers has boosted employment in this industry,” Knapik-Scalzo said.

The wages are high for this kind of work and the industry will continue to increase in demand.

“The computer and electronic product manufacturing industry paid a particularly high annual average wage of $110,568 in 2024,” Knapik-Scalzo said. “Employment in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector is projected to grow by over 60% through the year 2032.

Typical occupations include electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers (23.9% growth rate); software developers (26.7% growth rate); and industrial engineers (20% growth rate).”

In professional and business services, adding 1,500 jobs between 2019 to 2024 signals to Knapik-Scalzo that the segment shows rising demand for management support, personnel administration, clerical work and cleaning services is also driving growth.

“Educational services employs more people than any other significant industry in the region (46,451),” Knapik-Scalzo said. “This sector includes schools, colleges and training institutions that serve as major regional employers in both the private and public sectors. Demand is strong in the sector as baby boomers retire and not as many students pursue the teaching field.”

Look for growth among teaching assistants (18.2% growth rate), elementary school teachers (18.9%) and secondary school teachers (19%). Don’t overlook teaching specialties. Knapik-Scalzo said that those in demand include science, math, English as a second language, special education, technology and foreign languages.

As with everywhere in the country, healthcare workers are in short supply. Knapik-Scalzo said that the ambulatory health care services industry employs nearly 19,000 people in the region’s private sector and in 2024 paid an average annual wage of $77,915, “which is well above the regional average,” she said.

As with construction, retiring boomers will continue to create more openings for new workers. And in healthcare, the demand will also increase as boomers continue to age and will likely require more healthcare themselves.

Knapik-Scalzo added that growing job titles within ambulatory health care services include home health and personal care aides (33.7% growth rate), registered nurses (21.6% growth rate) and medical assistants (28.8% growth rate).