FRANKLYWNOW - Binghamton Chamber of Commerce Talks Economic Forecast

The Binghamton Chamber of Commerce gave it's 2015 economic forecast.

Regional economist of M&T Bank, Gary Keith said 2015 will see more growth on the national level than the regional level. The reason for this is because there is not a big manufacturing base in the Southern Tier. Binghamton University President, Harvey Stenger, closed the breakfast stating that the university plans to expand facilities and grow more programs at the graduate level but he also sees a need for a new idea or industry to make jobs become more available in the Southern Tier so the students do not have to look outside the state for work.

"The one that I think is going to be very important is construction employment. we are up about 500 jobs over here in terns of construction which is somewhat a leading indicator of new investment going into the ground is very positive for the area and another area is leisure and hospitality. Attracting new dollars to the region is important," said Vice President and Regional Economist from M&T Bank Gary Keith.

"We don't have many good jobs right now. We have to start finding ways to create them and that's why this next round we are going to try and create another industry focus in the southern tier is so critical," said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger.

Keith did say that there are five million job openings at the national level which is the most since 1999 and that has led to a three percent growth rate in the economy.