October Unemployment Dips Slightly in North Hempstead

Fewer Long Islanders found themselves unemployed in October, compared to a year ago. But at the same time the number of private sector jobs on Long Island also fell according to recent Labor Department statistics, the latest of which were released Tuesday.

The reasons for the decline in unemployment and job count may vary, according to Michael Crowell, an economist with the Labor Department in Hicksville.

“There are discouraged workers, and people finding work in the city,” he said.

Another possible reason is that “people may be leaving the area.”

Unemployment in the Town of North Hempstead dipped slightly in October, dropping to 5.7 percent, down from . It was 6.2 percent in October 2010. There were 6,400 North Hempstead residents listed as unemployed last month compared to 6,600 in September and 7,000 a year ago.

In Nassau, the unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in October, down from 6.7 percent in September. It was at 6.9 percent in October 2010. There were 43,000 Nassau County residents listed as unemployed in October, up from 45,100 in September, and 47,100 a year ago.

The private sector job count across Long Island fell over the year by 8,300. Leisure and hospitality; manufacturing; educational services; and trade, transportation and utilities all took hits.

And the construction sector, which had shown year-to-year gains in September, lost 100 jobs in October.

Bright spots included professional and business services and health care and social assistances.

“I’d like to think of declining unemployment as good,” Crowell said. “But with the declining number of jobs, I’m less optimistic.”