Politics & Government

Fewer Unemployed in Suffolk, But Many Don't See a Change

Emptying downtowns, lingering joblessness have some wondering where the recovery has gone.

Things are looking up in Suffolk County when it comes to the area’s unemployment stats, though many locals say the recovery has a long way to go.

The county’s jobless rate fell to 6.2 percent in May 2013, with 48,000 people filing for unemployment benefits, representing a sharp drop from the county’s 7.4 percent jobless rate in May 2102, according to recent New York State Department of Labor statistics.

But Smithtown Patch reader Lisa Procaccini isn’t buying it. “I think its just that everybody is being maxed out on their benefits ... but they are still unemployed,” she said on our Facebook page. The state does not count people who are not able to claim jobless benefits in the unemployment rate.

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“No signs of employment here,” said Commack Patch reader Kelly LaPietra. “It must be the hiring of only high School grads which are minimum wage jobs, What about higher wage jobs that are not happening?

Despite local disbelief, most towns in Suffolk showed the same kind of year-over-year drop in unemployment in May as the county did, though some towns held higher jobless rates than others.

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Babylon lead the county with a 6.9 percent jobless rate in May, still lower than its 8.2 percent unemployment in May 2012. Islip had the second highest, with 6.5 percent, compared to 7.7 percent in May 2012.

As for the jobless rate in other towns in May, Brookhaven had 6.1 percent unemployed, compared to 7.4 percent a year ago, Huntington had 5.5 percent unemployed, compared to 6.6 percent a year ago, Riverhead had 6.2 percent unemployed, compared to 7.6 percent a year ago, Smithtown had 5.6 percent unemployed, compared to 6.6 percent a year ago, and Southampton had 6 percent unemployed, compared to 6.8 percent a year ago.

Due to their smaller populations, the state does not collect data on Southold, East Hampton and Shelter Island towns.

“The big issue on LI is underemployment,” said North Fork Patch reader John Borzumato. “We continue to lose good paying jobs to less taxes regions and replace these jobs with fast food and retail. The LI economy is unsustainable.”

Others pointed to the region’s suffering downtowns as example that the recovery isn’t complete.

“You wouldn't know it from the looks of Kings Park Main Street,  which is looking more like a ghost town than a thriving community,” said Krista Briggs. “Businesses are shuttered and stores are for rent. It's scary.”

Still, a few locals have noticed things looking up.

“After being out of work for almost two years, I'm now employed again & bigger, better job offers are pouring in,” said John Massaro.

Lisa Zbar Watson agreed.

“By the looks of traffic in Southampton this week – I'd say yes.”


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