The Binghamton area saw a loss of roughly 1,000 private sector jobs over 2015. So what does 2016 have in store? The latest unemployment numbers give us a preview.


New York State Department of Labor Market Analyst Christian Harris says he has seen a gain of about 400 private sector jobs so far in 2016.


He said employers have noted an increase in participation in job fairs as of late. He also added our area's $500 million Upstate Revitalization win from Albany could spur private investment.


"We have our sheer number of jobs increasing and our locals are telling us, 'We're feeling more confident and we're searching and/or we're going right into the labor force because the opportunities are there for us now where as they weren't before.' That's another promising thing," said Harris.


Binghamton's unemployment number was 6.3% this January, this compares to 7.3% in the beginning of 2015. There has also been an increase of 300 people so far in this year's labor force count.