The city’s faster-than-expected recovery continued in August:  the local economy added 6,500 private sector jobs, continuing to surpass the nation’s growth rate. Jobs were added mostly in the real estate and banking arenas.

New York’s August unemployment rate held steady at 9.4%, according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Labor. The state unemployment rate rose to 8.3%, from 8.2% in July, while the national jobless rate stands at 9.6%