Politics & Government

Unemployment Rate Improves Slightly in Glen Cove

Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce: There are many new businesses opening in the community and seeking Chamber membership.

The Glen Cove unemployment rate slightly improved in November, according to recent Labor Department reports, the latest of which were released Tuesday.

Phyllis Gorham, Executive Director of the , says although the amount of membership renewals and new members "really haven't changed" from last year, there are signs of economic improvement:

“We basically retain about 250 members each year,” she said. “While some members do not chose to re-join and for those few who have closed their businesses, there are many new businesses opening in the community and seeking the value of Chamber membership."

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Additionally, fewer Long Islanders filed for unemployment benefits in November, compared to a year ago, according to the Labor Department. At the same time, the overall number of private sector jobs on Long Island dipped.

The unemployment pattern “is similar to what we’ve seen in recent months,” said Michael Crowell, an economist with the Labor Department in Hicksville.

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“It’s a sign that there is a number of discouraged workers,” he said, adding that those finding work did so outside of Long Island.

And while the job count fell, Crowell pointed out that four sectors added jobs in November whereas only one sector did so in October.

Unemployment in Nassau County in November, though, dipped slightly in Glen Cove. In Glen Cove, the unemployment rate for November was 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent a month ago. It was 7.1 percent in November 2010. There were 800 Glen Cove residents listed as unemployed last month, as well as in October, and 900 a year ago.

In Nassau, the unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in November, just as it was in October. It was at 7 percent in November 2010. There were 43,300 Nassau County residents listed as unemployed in November, up from 42,900 in October, and 48,000 a year ago.

Meanwhile, the private sector job count across Long Island fell over the year by 4,400. Leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, other services, information, and financial activities all took hits. Government employment fell by 4,200.

Industries with job gains included health care and social assistance, retail trade; and administrative, support and waste management.

And though Long Island lost jobs, Crowell said “the decline is a good deal smaller than it was a month ago" when there was only one sector adding jobs.

Crowell said that the gains could mean that Long Island is heading in the same direction as other parts of the state that added jobs in October.

“I continue to be hopeful,” he said. “There is variability in the numbers. To the extent that the numbers can tell us anything, I guess this is good news.”


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