Employment

There are a number of Federal and Civilian job opportunities available in the North Country. The unemployment rate in Jefferson County is currently 3.8% and the New York state minimum wage is $13.20 per hour. Minimum wage rates differ based on industry, region and business size. Rates will increase each year until they reach $15.00 per hour expected by 2024. Any increase in the federal wage above the state rate will result in an increase in the state's minimum wage. Visit the New York State Department of Labor website for additional employment information.

• Top Industries:
  • Healthcare: Physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical technologist, medical technicians, nursing instructors, licensed practical nurses, home health aids, certified nursing assistants and medical record transcribers (all require New York state certification)
  • Hospitality: Year round and seasonal work including servers, housekeepers, bartenders, laundry staff, front desk employees, catering staff and cooks
  • Retail: Customer service representatives, cashiers and sales staff
• Fair Prospects:
  • Financial Industry: bank branch managers, loan processing professionals, tellers and financial counseling
  • Human Service: Social workers, social assistance and clerical
  • Construction and Agriculture Sector: Laborers, drivers, heavy equipment operators and value added entrepreneurs
• Poor Prospects: Government employment, utilities, management/supervisory, accounting/bookkeeping and factory workers
  • Education: Teaching (New York state certification required for permanent or permanent substitutes)

Wages

Average wages depend on your occupation and industry, education level and experience. Please see the NYS Department of Labor website for further information regarding average wage information by occupation and industry.

Employment Readiness Program

The Employment Readiness Program is available to assist transitioning soldiers, spouses, family members, retirees, Defense Department civilians and dependents with obtaining employment in the area. ERP offers federal and civilian resume workshops, one-on-one career counseling, LinkedIn Tips and Tricks and job search resources to assist you with resume writing, career and education planning for your employment search. Available workshops include Resume Start to Finish, Career Fair Preparation and Interview Preparation, and Federal Resume Employment Application. In addition, the Employment Readiness Program host career fairs on the installation throughout the year and employment seminars. ERP maintains a current listing of employment opportunities in the area and can register clients to receive a weekly job bank with opportunities for local and national employment. 

For assistance, call the Employment Readiness Program at 315-772-1090/1181/6894 or DSN 312-772-1090/1181/6894. Jobseekers can also find job postings and employment resources on the Fort Drum ERP Facebook.

For information on Appropriated Funds and Non-Appropriated Funds employment on Fort Drum, visit USAJOBs.gov or call 315-772-1090 or DSN 312-772-1090.

State and County Employment Assistance

The Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Development System operates two One-Stop Centers for education and employment assistance:

• The WorkPlace One-Stop Career Center in Jefferson County (located at 1000 Coffeen St, Watertown, NY)
• The One-Stop Center for Employment and Training in Lewis County (located at 5274 Outer Stowe St, Lowville, NY 13367) 

Each center offers seminars, resume writing assistance, career counseling, and information on employment, education and training resources.

The New York State Department of Labor is a great resource for employment information as well as information about unemployment compensation.

It is extremely important that you are prepared for your job hunt. For job hunting purposes, be sure to hand carry all employment records and documents, resumes, SF 171, SF 50, educational transcripts, certificates, and licenses. Military Spouses may be eligible to use Spouse Preference when applying to federal positions and should obtain a copy of their marriage certificate and a copy of Service Members orders.

The Fort Drum Transition Assistance Program offers a full complement of courses, programs, and career counseling sessions designed to assist transitioning soldiers and families in preparing for their life after military service. Our goal is to educate, equip, and connect transitioning soldiers and military spouses with meaningful employment opportunities. The FD-TAP program comprises of 45 to 55 hours of coursework with additional hours of career counseling. Mentorship is designed to be delivered over a transitioning soldier and families' last 12-18 months in service.

Soldiers and spouses will have the opportunity to attend added classes and additional programs sponsored by various local, state and national agencies. We also have partnerships with noted vocational and educational institutes that offer a myriad of certification programs ranging from human resources, information technology certifications and project management as well as carpentry, commercial driver's license truck driving and OSHA certifications. FD-TAP also houses the Employment Readiness Program and the DOL Employment Navigator and Partnership Program assisting soldiers and spouses in the development of resumes both civilian and federal, as well as job boards and preparation for interviews and onboarding.

FD-TAP and our partners run numerous career days and quarterly job fairs which are open to soldiers, spouses and veterans. Additional information about FD-TAP services can be obtained by calling 315-772-3434/3286, DSN 772-3434/3286, by visiting the FD-TAP Facebook page or the Army-TAP website.

There are several educational opportunities in the North Country. Several colleges offer classes on Fort Drum and in Watertown. The Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services offers courses for personal enrichment, literacy improvement, skills training, re-training opportunities, and continuing education.

Counselors at the Education Center provide education counseling for Soldiers and their adult Family members in support of educational programs. Financial assistance is available to Soldiers through Army Tuition Assistance and to Family members though other federal programs, and veteran's benefits. There are a variety of loans and grant programs to help Soldiers and their Family members fund their education. Military Family members stationed in New York are eligible for in-state tuition and may qualify for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program. Army Emergency Relief also provides education scholarships to spouses and children Service members. Visit the AER website for information about AER scholarships. https://www.aerhq.org/

Additional information about education opportunities and tuition assistance options can be obtained by calling the Education Center at 315-772-6878 or DSN 315-772-6878.

MyCAA

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.

New York State Department of Labor determines whether an unemployed worker qualifies for unemployment. If you currently have a claim filed in another state and have moved to New York, the other state may require you to register with New York. For additional unemployment information, visit the New York State Department of Labor website.

There are a number of job opportunities available, but competition for jobs is high. Contact the Employment Readiness Program at 315-772-9611 and visit the New York State Department of Labor website for additional employment information. Unemployment rate is 3.80%. Median household income is $52,685.