Nation adds jobs in February, even on LI
Ilyssa Wallach of Commack, a new hire in business development at Sandwire in Garden City. National job numbers are looking up. (March 4, 2011) Photo by Craig Ruttle Credit: Photo by Craig Ruttle/
The U.S. economy added 192,000 jobs in February, the best showing since May 2010, according to federal data released Friday. The unemployment rate inched down from 9 percent to 8.9 percent, the lowest since April 2009.
The private sector added 222,000 jobs in February. But a loss of 30,000 jobs in the public sector cut the gain in overall employment, or total nonfarm jobs, to 192,000.
Some local employers, buoyed by rising customer demand, have increased hiring.
Sandwire Corp., a Garden City technology company that services computers and networks and hosts clients' computer operations, has hired two people in the past six weeks, including one just last week, said president Adam Schwam.
"I see that things are easing up a little bit because some of my clients are growing," said Schwam, whose company has 16 employees.
He hired Ilyssa Wallach, 23, six weeks ago as an administrative assistant. She previously worked as an event planner, but after six months landed a job at Sandwire.
"I've been very lucky," she said.
John Reilly, assistant vice president/credit, a new hire at the Teachers Federal Credit Union, in his new office at the credit union headquarters in Farmingville. (Photo by John Dunn) (Mar. 4, 2011) Credit: Photo by John Dunn/
Teachers Federal Credit Union in Farmingville hired John Reilly as an assistant vice president in late December. Reilly had worked at a commercial bank but saw that production was slowing down and decided to look for "better opportunity."
Despite the improving job market, worries persist about its outlook.
Robert G. Allen, president and chief executive of Teachers Federal, has hired 19 employees since January, mostly tellers to replace those who left.
But said he remains pessimistic about the economy because his company's core membership is tied to the local school system, which has had layoffs, with more expected because of cutbacks in state aid.
"If people lose their jobs, delinquencies and losses go up," he said. "That's where my pessimism comes from."
Said Martin Melkonian, a Hofstra University economics professor, "I don't think the private sector will be able to overcome the two heavy headwinds of higher fuel prices and public-sector layoffs."
Lindenhurst resident Bill Donohue, 51, who has been unemployed since 2008, doesn't even see much improvement now.
"It's been very tough and very discouraging," he said.
Employment nationwide rose the most in the professional and business-services category, which added 47,000 jobs in February. Education and health services was second, with 40,000 jobs. Manufacturing and construction tied for third, with each adding 33,000 jobs. The government sector lost the most jobs.
Long Island has also been grappling with local-government job losses, but its current 7 percent unemployment rate remains considerably below the nation's.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
