WHITE PLAINS – Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley increased 5,500, or 0.8 percent, to 700,600 for the 12-month period ending February 2011, signally another month of a slight economic recovery.

The State Labor Department said employment gains were greatest in educational and health services (+2,600), professional and business services (+2,500), other services (+1,200), leisure and hospitality (+1,100), and trade, transportation and utilities (+1,100). Job losses were centered in manufacturing (-1,300) and natural resources, mining and construction (-900). Government lost 4,100 jobs over the year.

“The region continues to exhibit signs of a turnaround,” said Labor Department analyst John Nelson. “The private sector added 5,500 jobs over the past year, and more industries are adding jobs. The professional and business services sector has been the most impressive during the last several months. A growing concern is the ongoing loss of government jobs, which dropped 4,100 over the past year. “