Expert says region entering a period of significant economic and workforce growth
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If you are a young adult looking for a first job after completing a degree, it may seem like moving out of the area would offer the best chance.
But not so fast.
The local job market may be more promising than you think.
Gary Morris, director of Career Services at SUNY Oswego, said that Central New York is becoming an employment hotspot for young adults.
“Central New York is entering a period of significant economic and workforce growth, driven by large-scale infrastructure investments, expanding high-tech industries and renewed strength in manufacturing,” Morris said.
He cited as one example high-tech manufacturing and semiconductors, led by Micron Technology’s investment in Clay. It’s a great time to get a job in this industry because “this sector is expected to grow at more than twice the rate of the overall regional economy,” Morris said.
Morris noted that in-demand roles include software developers, industrial engineers and electrical assemblers.
“Computer and electronic product manufacturing is currently the highest-paying major industry in the region, with average annual wages around $106,300,” Morris added.
Careers involved with infrastructure, engineering and construction are gaining momentum for local projects, including the I-81 project and Micron’s development.
“Heavy and civil engineering construction is projected to grow 16.3% through 2030,” Morris said.
The roles include construction laborers, operating engineers and project management professionals with the average wages among the highest in the region at $104,700 annually.
Unmanned arial vehicles (UAVs) and AI-driven technology are also big in Central New York.
“The area hosts one of only seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the country,” Morris said. “Collaboration between military partners and companies such as Lockheed Martin, Saab and SRC Inc. is fueling demand.”
There’s also growth in UAVs for use in agricultural and land and water management applications for scouting fields and forests for invasive pests and growth; spraying crops without disrupting the soil and plants; and spraying bodies of water to control invasive algae without the risk of spreading it through disturbing the water.
Morris said that the top roles include software developers, remote sensing specialists, mechatronics technicians and information security analysts.
“AI integration is accelerating growth, with some Syracuse-based tech roles reaching salaries above $150,000,” Morris noted.
Manufacturing is coming back to the US with an accompanying need for workers in the areas of logistics, warehousing and distribution.
“Syracuse’s location at the crossroads of major interstate highways continues to attract large-scale distribution and logistics operations,” Morris said.
He added that warehousing and storage employment grew 131.8% between 2018 and 2023 and is projected to increase by another 40% by 2030. The top roles include couriers, logistics coordinators, and heavy truck drivers—particularly as e-commerce continues to expand.
Central New York’s core employment sectors of education and healthcare continue as essential industries in the region. With education representing the largest industry in the region, accounting for 13.7% of all jobs (about 46,000 positions), “demand is especially strong for teachers in math, science and special education.”
As for healthcare, the need for workers is also on the rise as aging baby boomers are retiring from healthcare roles and also requiring more healthcare themselves.
“Ambulatory care and community-based services are growing rapidly, with high demand for home health aides, registered nurses and medical administrative professionals,” Morris said.
Fastest Growing Industries, Occupation
Karen Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor Division of Research & Statistics in Syracuse, listed the top 12 fastest growing industries in Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the second quarter of 2024 as follows:
• social assistance (+3,258 jobs, average annual pay $33,641)
• educational services (+2,087, $79,663)
• administrative and support services (+1,681, $66,024)
• computer and electronic product manufacturing (+725, $117,547)
• executive, legislative and general government (+555, $63,358)
• transit and ground passenger transportation (+481, $50,845);
• specialty trade contractors (+356, $81,646)
• utilities (+190, $155,606)
• insurance carriers and related activities (+185, $106,575)
• membership associations and organizations (+143, $41,648)
• hospitals (+134, $92,867)
• agriculture and forestry support activities (+96, $39,233).
