Oyster Bay Employment Showing Big Gains

Formally unemployed Town of residents are finding work at a fast clip and the town's rate of unemployment continues to be well below the state and national average.

Figures released Tuesday by the New York State Department of Labor show the town's unemployment rate at 6.5 percent, down .2 from just a month ago and well below the 7.3 percent recorded in February, 2010.

That compares with a statewide unemployment rate of 8.7 percent, down from 8.9 percent last month and 9.5 percent a year ago. The New York City unemployment rate stood at 9.2 percent, down from 9.4 percent in January and 10.2 percent a year ago.

The unemployment rate for the United States was 9.5 percent, down from 9.8 percent in January and 10.4 percent a year ago in February.

Nassau and Suffolk counties continued to be in better shape than the rest of the state. Nassau County's unemployment rate stood at 7.2 percent. Suffolk's unemployment rate was recorded as 8.2 percent. Both figures are significantly down from last month and last year.

Part of the reason, according to labor department officials, may be found in recent business expansions in the immediate area. 

Among those expansions, according to the state are: 

• Comtech Telecommunications Corp., based in Melville, just over the Suffolk line from Plainview, is a wireless communications equipment manufacturer. It just received a new order from the U.S. Army worth $27.5 million for vehicle tracing and a communications system. 
• In Uniondale, Frequency Electronics Inc. won a contract extension with the federal government worth about $12 million for a “high capacity secure communications satellite program” Typically, the company employs large numbers of electrical workers, assemblers, inspectors and others.
• In Syosset, Lifetime Fitness is a recently opened club including a full spa, salon, indoor and outdoor pools, personal trainers and nutrition coaches. 

In fact, Long Island is gaining jobs at the fastest rate in the state, leading the charge of the recovery, said Michael Crowell, senior economist with the 's regional office in Hicksville.

Long Island has added 12,100 jobs, or a 1.2 percent gain, since the recession began The job gains appear to be in education, health services, and the hospitality industry.

The private sector is adding jobs statewide while government jobs are disappearing, accounting for the flat state-wide growth rate, Crowell said. 

Town of Oyster Bay unemployment figures: 

Feb. 2011

Jan. 2011

Feb. 2010

151,347

152,200

152,256

141,452

142,026

141,195

 9,895

10,174

11,061

6.5%

6.7%

7.3%