The people who work at the University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital are important not only to the health and wellness of our community, but also to the regional economy. Education and healthcare sectors are a major part of New York State’s economy—attributable to 15% of all jobs and 12% of all earnings—and are particularly important in upstate New York.
Here are some key economic highlights regarding the University of Rochester and its affiliates*:
- The University is the largest private employer in upstate New York—approximately 32,500 employees or 28,000 full-time equivalents (FTE)—and ranked seventh in the state in terms of FTE employment and growing. It directly paid approximately $2.26 billion to its workforce in 2019. Through spillover spending, and its other economic impacts, its total employment impact is nearly 68,000, with earnings of $4.7 billion.
- Major capital investments made by the University support steady construction employment and related jobs in the economy. Annual capital investment spending averaged about $324 million over the last five years.
- The advances that happen within UR Medicine research laboratories are also vital not only for the health benefit to our community, but also for the millions of dollars that the research enterprise attracts.
- Approximately 37% of clinical revenue flowing to Strong Memorial Hospital is highly specialized, part of its unique contribution to the Rochester economy.