Huntington Unemployment Increases to 6 Percent

Unemployment increased in the town of Huntington over the past month, according to Tuesday's US Labor Department reports, with more people competing for fewer jobs.

Huntington's unemployment rate for November was 6 percent, up from 5.9 percent in October, and down from 6.5 percent last year. The trend continued across Long Island with a bigger overall increase for Suffolk County which climbed from a 6.7 percent unemployment rate in October to a 7 percent unemployment rate in November, a decrease from 7.4 percent a year ago.

The unemployment pattern “is similar to what we’ve seen in recent months,” said Michael Crowell, an economist with the Labor Department in Hicksville. “It’s a sign that there are a number of discouraged workers.”

Both the government and private sector job count across Long Island fell over the year by 4,400, with leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, other services, information, and financial activities all taking hits, forcing many to seek work outside of Long Island. 

Not all was bleak, however, as some sectors did show job gains in November, such as health care and social assistance, retail trade, and administrative, support and waste management, whereas only one sector did so in October. 

Those 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,” said Crowell. “There is variability in the numbers. To the extent that the numbers can tell us anything, I guess this is good news.”

John Magloire, C.O.O. of Access Staffing in Melville, said jobs in the light industrial and scientific sectors are also in demand for positions such as machinists, picker/packers, loaders and unloaders, healthcare aides, registered nurses, and lab techs.

Regardless of which field you choose, Magloire said, computing and office software skills are always in high demand, as is higher education such as a bachelors or associates degree, or a certificate from an accredited trade program.

"Don't get discouraged. It's still a very difficult economy," he said. "Use all the resources that are available to you, including career resources from municipalities and agencies such as ours. Make sure your resume is structured perfectly, and work on your interview skills; work on those things that are going to help you land a job."

The best way to approach your job search is to stay on your toes by attending as many interviews as possible and enhancing your skills while you have the opportunity. "You may be going up against 400 resumes, so find that one thing that you think would differentiate you from someone else that would have a similar background."

At the end of the day, Magloire said that its a good work ethic which will stand above. "Show up on time and work hard," he said. "That will go far with anybody."