New York’s unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in November, down from 8.7 percent, the state Department of Labor announced today.

The state’s private sector added 83,500 jobs, but the increase did not put New York’s unemployment rate below the national average of 7.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New York City’s unemployment rate declined as well, falling from 9.2 percent to 8.8 percent. But the state still lost jobs overall between October and November, 33,500 in total non-farm and private-sector jobs.

Despite the unemployment rate standing above 8 percent, the silver lining from state officials is that the jobs were added despite the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the New York City region’s economy.

“In 2012, New York’s economy grew by 83,500 private sector jobs. These year-to-date figures are particularly strong given the negative impact of Hurricane Sandy to our state’s economy,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Deputy Director of the Division of Research and Statistics in a statement.

The news comes a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo held the second annual Regional Economic Development awards presentation in Albany, doling out $738 million in economic development aid to 10 regions of the state who participated in the competitive program.

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