by Jennifer Henderson, Crain's New York Business

Jobs topped 1.2 million in 2017

Health care employment in the state increased by more than 18% in the past 10 years, more than double the growth rate of overall employment, according to a report released Monday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

New York health care jobs topped 1.2 million in 2017, a record for the 10-year period, and the industry provided almost $71 billion in wages, with an average salary of $57,200.Such jobs account for 7.2% of all health care employment nationwide, the third-highest share in the U.S.

But proposed federal cuts in industry spending are "troubling" because they could hurt employment, pose a risk for the state budget and threaten the quality of care for New Yorkers, DiNapoli said in a written message included with the report. "It's essential that New York takes the right steps to maintain the health care workforce we need, both now and into the future," he wrote.

Private sector health care employment, representing 90% of the state's jobs in the industry, grew in every region of the state during the past 10 years, according to the report. The greatest growth occurred in New York City (32.9%); Long Island (25.1%); the Finger Lakes region (18.9%); the Hudson Valley (17.8%); and western New York (16.7%).

New York health care jobs topped 1.2 million in 2017, a record for the 10-year period, and the industry provided almost $71 billion in wages, with an average salary of $57,200.Such jobs account for 7.2% of all health care employment nationwide, the third-highest share in the U.S.

But proposed federal cuts in industry spending are "troubling" because they could hurt employment, pose a risk for the state budget and threaten the quality of care for New Yorkers, DiNapoli said in a written message included with the report. "It's essential that New York takes the right steps to maintain the health care workforce we need, both now and into the future," he wrote.

Private sector health care employment, representing 90% of the state's jobs in the industry, grew in every region of the state during the past 10 years, according to the report. The greatest growth occurred in New York City (32.9%); Long Island (25.1%); the Finger Lakes region (18.9%); the Hudson Valley (17.8%); and western New York (16.7%).

In New York City, ambulatory services generated the most new jobs, 279,005, accounting for $12.4 billion in wages. Although there were fewer new hospital jobs, 162,676, they were more lucrative, producing about $13.6 billion in wages.