Nassau Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly

Nassau County saw a small decline in its unemployment rate between the months of November and December 2010, falling from 6.9 percent to 6.7 percent, according to statistics released on Thursday by the state's Department of Labor.

A little less than 2,000 residents gained employment from November to December of 2010.When compared to county statistics from December 2009, unemployment rates actually stayed the same at 6.7 percent.

In the Town of Hempstead, unemployment also decreased from November to December of last year, falling from 7.3 to 7 percent. A little more than 1,100 residents gained employment during that time frame. When comparing December 2009 stats to last December's numbers, unemployment dropped slightly in the 12-month span, from 7.1 percent to 7 percent.

Michael Crowell, a senior economist for the state labor department, noted that Long Island has fared better when compared to state and national unemployment rates. "The data lists the local unemployment rate at 7 percent, the state rate at 8 percent, and the national rate at 9.1 percent," he said.

He added though, that local numbers have basically remained the same. "The thing that jumped out is that the 2010 and 2009 tied for the highest unemployment rate in December in this data series, which started in 1990." Asked why, Crowell said, "The recession is the short answer."

Crowell noted that in 2009, Long Island lost 40,000 jobs over the year. Now there are gains in the private sector.

"Just as that's happening, government is losing jobs, putting a damper on the gains made in the private sector," he said. "Those job losses are mainly in the local school districts. We lost 4,500 jobs in government as a whole compared to the year prior." The cuts, he said, were "due largely to cuts in state aid."

The Lawrence School District recently laid off staff, and the Hewlett-Woodmere School District may be forced in the future.

According to the latest data, job gains were made in state government education – state universities and colleges and community colleges, where jobs jumped 13.2 percent, and food services and drinking places, up 7.5 percent.

"The bright light is education and health services," Crowell said, adding that many of those jobs were in hospitals and doctors' offices. "Long Island added 6,500 jobs over the year."