Opportunity Knocks: Living and Working On Long Island

Remember how hard it was finding a job, at least one you want, like and pays well, especially here on Long Island. In fact, many of us had to commute into the boroughs or into The City for a decent paying job in our field. And, it was commonplace for the Long Island market to be limited.

Well, it seems, according to reports that the tables may have turned. The case now seems to be that there are plenty of decent jobs and not enough qualified employees. And, according to reports, it’s all part of the recent decline in local unemployment rates. In fact, it’s reported that Long Island’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.3 percent, the third lowest rate recorded to date and the lowest it’s been since 2000.

Furthermore, New York City cited a 4.1 percent overall unemployment rate, the lowest its been since the Department of Labor started keeping records 35 years ago.

Here on The Island, the low unemployment rate continues to follow a few new job openings in the private sector, increasing Long Island’s job growth by 0.2 percent or 1,900 in the 12- month span ending in October.

And, while officials note that these figures are relatively low, they are at least, they suggest, a positive sign, and not a reflection of any significant job losses.

Both Long Island and Manhattan posted private-sector gains and losses in their traditional categories. Long Island’s grows appeared to be strongest in the professional business-services arena, a category that includes accountants and lawyers, and that added nearly 3,000 jobs in the past year.

However, trade, transportation and utilities lost a little over 2,000 jobs and the manufacturing sector lost 1,500 jobs.

New York City’s employment rate showed an increase of 1.5 percent, 47,000 jobs. And, the education and health services industry showed the greatest growth with a nearly 17,000-job increase.

Professional and business services also showed significant growth with a nearly 9,000-job gain.

On the other hand, manufacturing jobs in The City suffered a loss, one of 3,500 jobs.

Other jobs categories suffering loses include registered nurses and engineer.

And, according to officials, Long Island’s employment growth is expected to be strongest in technical areas such as information management and processing.