Columbia County ranks third in upstate private sector job growth, according to the state Department of Labor's recent Upstate New York Labor Market Report. According to a statement released by the Columbia Economic Development Corporation Thurs., Mar. 28, the county's private sector job growth increased by 3.3 percent between Jan. 2012 and Jan. 2013. "We are encouraged by the numbers and look forward to seeing a continued upward trend," said CEDC Executive Director Ken Flood. The four other upstate counties that made the list: Hamilton, Chenango, Schuyler and Delaware. According to the report, upstate counties saw job gains in educational and health services, leisure and hospitality and trade and transportation and utilities.