State: LI sees fewer jobs in December

Long Island's economy had 9,900 fewer jobs in December than it did a year before, the State Labor Department said Thursday.

It was the eighth consecutive month that the department's year-over-year gauge of employment here showed a declining labor market. Some local economists contend the continued lower employment reflects an economy that has yet to emerge from the recession. Nationally the 18-month recession that followed the financial crisis officially ended in June 2009.

"These job numbers are more consistent with a recessionary environment than an economic recovery," said Pearl Kamer, chief economist for the Long Island Association.

A U.S. Conference of Mayors report released this week predicts the Island and other New York metro areas won't return to pre-recession employment peaks until 2014. And the latest Labor Department data again show the Island as one of the state's worst-performing economies.

"If you look at some of the worst depressed areas upstate, they are doing better than we are," Kamer said.

The Island's economy still has some bright spots. For example, the retail sector hired 3,100 more workers in December than a year earlier.

"There seemed to be a great deal of holiday exuberance in the air," said Michael Crowell, senior economist in the Labor Department's Hicksville office.

The private education and health-services category gained the most jobs, with an increase of 1,800 from the year-earlier period. Leisure and hospitality lost the most -- 3,700.

Despite the overall economic bleakness, some employers can't find enough qualified candidates for certain jobs. Melville-based Lloyd Staffing has seen high demand for temporary and permanent jobs in areas such as medical records, health care information technology and social media.

"It's tough to find quality, experienced workers," said Jason Banks, executive vice president.

At Robert Half International's local operations, demand is high in many of the same areas. It is also strong in highly specialized jobs such as business-systems analysts and staff and senior accountants, said Chris Campisi, Robert Half's Uniondale-based metro market manager.

"Businesses are making strategic hires in areas that are enhancing the profitability and growth of companies," he said.

The department will release the Island's December jobless rate Tuesday. The November rate fell to 6.7 percent from 7.2 percent a year earlier.