Workforce
Cortland County’s workforce is critical to the quality of its local economy, and it has historically been second to none. There are many reasons why the labor force has what it takes to help your business:
- The workers in Cortland County are educated, which is evident by the county’s excellent educational attainment rates.
- Despite New York having the reputation of a heavily-unionized state, only one of the county’s top eight private employers uses organized labor.
- Cortland County’s labor force has grown over the past five years, which means there will be a steady increase of available labor in the future.
Wages / Availability
The cost of labor for specific occupations is lower in Cortland County when compared to the Central New York Non-metropolitan Area and the State of New York. Lower labor costs, coupled with high labor availability, ensure that businesses will be able to operate in a cost-effective manner without sacrificing productivity.
Median Hourly Wage
CURRENT New York State Minimum Wage: $11.80
| Occupation Code | Occupation Title | Central New York NMA | New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $26.57 | $31.50 |
| 51-4041 | Machinists | $21.78 | $21.90 |
| 51-9199 | Production Workers, All Other | $19.36 | $16.58 |
| 53-3032 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $22.17 | $21.91 |
| 53-7062 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $13.27 | $14.85 |
| 53-1031 | First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | $28.61 | $29.18 |
Labor Relations
New York has generally had the reputation of being heavily unionized, but that isn’t necessarily the case in Cortland County. Out of the top-eight private sector employers in Cortland County, only one uses union labor.
Labor Statistics for the Central New York Region
Unemployment
Cortland County has an unemployment rate that is slightly higher than the state rate but lower than the national average. Cortland County has workers that are eager to get back to work.
Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.
Comparative Unemployment Rates
Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month.
| Cortland County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0% (March 2020) | 4.5% (March 2020) | 4.4% (March 2020) |
