The Labor Market in Buffalo, NY state

If you’re in the process of moving to Buffalo, or are just looking around for a new job, then you’re probably wondering - just what is the state of the labor market in Buffalo, NY. Once a major steel producing center with automobile and aircraft production facilities, it is fair to say now that Buffalo is no longer a city associated with heavy industry. Having said that there are still some small/independent steel mills and heavy engineering plants to be found, but the port on Lake Erie is no longer as busy as it once was. However, the changes that have occurred in recent years to the economy of Buffalo are no different to those that have occurred in countless other US cities, so let’s see what’s on offer now in terms of the labor market.

21st century diversification

As mentioned above, like most cities in the USA Buffalo quickly realized that if it wanted to retain its place as one of the top 20 cities in America it would need to re-evaluate the industries and businesses that it could support, which meant that the city began the process of bringing new industries and businesses to the city. The arrival of these new companies inevitably meant that the labor force had to learn new skills and, if they couldn’t be found amongst the existing population, then new labor was sought. Subsequently Buffalo has enjoyed an expanding labor market, especially for staff with the skills and experience that cannot be found amongst the local population but are willing to move to Buffalo.

Traditional Buffalo industries

As previously mentioned steel making does continue in Buffalo, but on a greatly reduced scale to what was the case 50 years ago. The relatively low costs of transportation, coupled with the high volumes that can be moved in one go using ships on Lake Erie, mean that both Ford and Chevrolet retain stamping works in or near Buffalo. Despite the threat to the automobile industry during the last recession both of these stamping plants seem secure for the time being. The fact that Buffalo is a major port on Lake Erie, even though the St Lawrence seaway took shipping away from it,  and that the city sits on the main US-Canada road and rail trade route; makes Buffalo quite a center for transport links, which also provide many jobs in themselves.

The new Buffalo labor market

The new Buffalo labor market can best be described as a mixture of light manufacturing, private sector service companies and the new ‘high-tech’ companies and green’ industries. Typical companies looking to recruit labor in Buffalo include Kaleida Health, the HSBC and the M&T banks, the latter of which is head-quartered in Buffalo, and the Seneca Gaming Corporation which is currently expanding its casino operations across New York State. Being located in the west of New York State, Buffalo is also seeking to expand its tourism industry with plenty of opportunities for winter sports, sailing, canoeing and, of course, wilderness exploration. In a city that supports a student population of around 50,000 Higher Education students, education itself is a major employer; and is especially keen to recruit staff for its Technology Park in the downtown campus of the University of Buffalo. Indeed education accounts of the largest number of public sector workers in Buffalo at over 8000 people.

Buffalo needs you!

If you haven’t already picked up on this, quite simply - Buffalo needs you. The decline in steel production and to a lesser extent the loss of shipping, when the St Lawrence Seaway opened, meant that the population of Buffalo dipped severely as the 20th century drew to a close. This population decline is a trend being experienced across western New York, meaning that labor cannot even be brought in from surrounding areas. Subsequently, today the labor market is suffering a shortage of personnel creating plenty of opportunities for anyone looking for work and willing to move to Buffalo.