Rochester, N.Y.—Greg Graves knows a thing or two about struggling industries.
His car dealership failed in the mid 2000s prompting a shift to a different industry - commercial transportation.
“It’s definitely a positive because it means I can keep contributing,” said Graves, who drives and serves as a dispatcher for Golden Memories, a bus company in Rochester.
Transportation is among an industry group that added 1,200 jobs in the Rochester area between September 2011 and September 2012, according to state labor statistics.
Manufacturing has been the biggest loser in the local job market, losing 900 jobs during the same span.
“You do have your days when you get run down and depressed,” said Steve Spinelli.
For 30 years, Spinelli served as an engineer and customer service specialist at Eastman Kodak. He was laid off six months ago and has been in search of a job ever since.
“I’m kind of looking at my experience and tying that into the health industry and see if (there are) opportunities out there,” said Spinelli.
Judging by the September 2012 jobs report, there are plenty of opportunities.
Education and health services added 2,200 jobs in the Rochester area, ranking second among growing industries.
In the past year, 8,900 jobs were created, according to labor statistics.
“Overall, the latest jobs report is quite favorable,” said Tammy Marino, Associate Economist for the New York State Department of Labor. Marino added the current job market is the strongest in decades.
