ABC’s Sampson: NY’s Policies Hurt Business’ Chances of Success

Construction unemployment rates in New York State have dropped drastically from a year ago, but NY still lags behind 48 states.That’s according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

In December 2020, the rate was 15.9%. A year later in December 2021, the rate was 9.5%

Despite that good news, advocates with the Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors say NY still ranks 49th worst in the country when it comes to this industry.

Brian Sampson, President of that chapter, says he feels NY continues to pass legislation that hurts businesses chances for success which in turn, makes them unable to grow, and thus unable to hire construction workers to help with potential expansion.

Sampson feels other states - with better tax climates - are seeing businesses grow and create jobs and he believes it all starts with the construction industry.

"What our elected people need to understand is that the largest driver of a middle-class expansion of opportunity is in the construction industry. We have tens of thousands of openings here in the state and we have over half a million job openings in construction jobs across the country. You want to get people on a path to the middle-class? Stimulate the construction industry and watch what happens to your economy...it will boom!" stated Sampson.

Alaska is the only state with a higher construction unemployment rate than NY.