Labor officials say New York's unemployment rate has reached its lowest level in nearly five years. It dropped from 7.7% in October to 7.4% in November.
The largest gains came in the educational and health service sectors. Suffolk and Nassau counties have added more than 31,000 total non-farm jobs since November of 2012.
The unemployment rate in Connecticut has dropped to 7.6%. It's the third consecutive month that rate has fallen. Officials caution the decline has come amid a shrinking labor force.