Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. praised the news, announced today by the New York State Department of Labor that the Bronx County unemployment rate has dropped to single digits, down to 9.8 percent.
“When I first became borough president, I made it clear that job creation would be a top priority of my administration. Over the past five years my office, in partnership with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, city and state officials, our business community, no-profits and everyday Bronxites, we have worked hard to create thousands of new jobs in The Bronx. What we are doing is working,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The borough has had a double-digit unemployment rate since January 2009, when it stood at 10.2 percent, peaking at 13.9 in January 2010. One year ago, in August 2013, the borough’s unemployment rate stood at 12.1 percent.
Since Borough President Diaz took office in 2009, The Bronx has seen $5.768 billion in total development, the creation of more than 13,000 in new units of housing and more than 14,000 new jobs created. Much of this progress is outlined in the office’s annual development report, which can be read at http://on.nyc.gov/1pkMnYS.
With the opening of several new retail centers in recent weeks, as well as major projects such as the Kingsbridge National Ice Center and Freshdirect on the horizon, thousands of new jobs have been created in Bronx County. In addition, a new partnership announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in August between the New York State Department of Labor and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, as part of the “NY Works,” program is placing Bronx residents in these jobs, helping to ensure that new development here benefits everyone, especially Bronxites.
“This massive improvement in our unemployment numbers proves we have had the right approach. Supporting our Bronx businesses, attracting new ones and partnering with the New York State Department of Labor to work with the new employers and our residents who are looking for work insures that everyone wins,” said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.
“This partnership between the BOEDC and the Department of Labor is already bearing fruit, and I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Peter Rivera for both launching this important program right here in The Bronx and for showing a strong commitment to the future of our borough. This program can be a statewide, if not national, model for job creation and placement. ‘NY Works’ is working for The Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz.
Borough President Diaz added, “As I have said before, what we are doing is working. Positive news like today’s unemployment statistics show us that we are on the right path. We still have a great deal of work to do, but it is clear that our ‘New Bronx’ agenda is showing real progress.”