Unemployment Rises in Glen Cove

The unemployment rate in Glen Cove jumped from 7.1 to 9.7 percent in January – a move which follows Long Island and county-wide trends – according to the New York State Department of Labor report released on Thursday.

Glen Cove's rate improved since this time last year when the local jobless rate peaked at 10 percent, labor statistics show. 

 president Mary Stanco said that she is optimistic that the city's economy will improve as the weather gets warmer.

"Spring and summer will bring jobs," Stanco said. "Once summer hits we'll have more kids out doing work." 

and  among summer events that are expected to attract out-of-towners to the area, directly impacting local business.

Stanco said that anyone seeking employment in Glen Cove should contact the directly. 

While each week, there are  

While the receives two or three applicants a week as a result of a help wanted sign displayed above the entrance, owners say they are having trouble finding qualified applicants, as many cannot speak English, have no related experience, or do not wish to work on weekends.

"The Glen Cove Bagel Cafe is still seeking experienced counter help to work with customers fulfilling orders for bagel and lunch sandwiches and salads," said managing partner John Compitello. "We offer a great working environment, and the pride of selling a fantastic product. Experience working in a deli is required, and applicants should be familiar with basic cooking techniques, safe use of a cold cut slicer, and types of breads and sandwich meats. Applicants must be able to work flexible hours. The store is open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., days and weekends. Competitive salary offered and benefits available."

Long Island is adding jobs, but not as many as originally thought in 2010. More people were unemployed than previously stated. After its annual process of factoring in unemployment tax records, to ensure the accuracy of its earlier reports, the New York State Labor Department revised its numbers, saying Wednesday that the number of private sector jobs in 2010 actually fell by 7,000.

The new total number of 2010 private sector jobs is 1,017,600. That’s nearly 46,000 below Long Island’s pre-recession peak of 1,063,500, in 2007.

Prior to the revision, the Labor Department had reported that Long Island’s private sector began adding jobs in April. Post revision, however, it was revealed that the gains began in July, said Michael Crowell, the Labor Department’s senior economist for Long Island.

“The good thing is we’re adding jobs, but not as fast as we like to see, but at least it’s positive,” Crowell said.

On Long Island, private sector jobs increased in January by 5,600, bringing the total number of jobs to 986,900, up by .6 percent from a year earlier. Top gains were seen in education and health services, with 4,200 new jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, with 2,900 new jobs; and professional and business services, up by 2,700.

In addition, the department also revised unemployment figures for 2010. On Long Island, the average unemployment rate increased from 7.1 percent to 7.4 percent. However, for the month of January 2011, Long Island’s unemployment rate is at 8 percent, with 116,352 people unemployed, down from 120.135, at a rate of 8.2 percent a year earlier.

In Nassau County, the unemployment rate increased to 7.5 percent in January, 2011, up from 6.6 percent in December 2010. However, it was at 7.8 percent in January 2010. There were 50,516 unemployed Nassau County residents in January, up from 45,193 in December. That increase is almost entirely due to seasonal holiday employment opportunities that ended in the new year, Crowell said. Still, there is an improvement over January 2010, when 52,867 were unemployed.

“Most startling is that the January numbers don’t show a decline in local government education,” Crowell said, referring to public school district jobs. He added that during the last three to four months there were layoffs in local school districts, but by January the rate ceased, even showing an increase.

The Labor Department will release numbers for February on March 24.