Glen Cove engineering firm has jobs going unfilled

With Long Island's unemployment rate at an uncomfortable 8 percent, it would seem that finding people to fill jobs would be simple. But not always.

One Long Island company, T.M. Bier & Associates Inc. of Glen Cove, which makes temperature control devices for greater energy efficiency in buildings, has at least eight mostly entry-level openings it has been unable to fill for months.

"It's holding back our growth," said Ted Bier, who founded the company in 1977 and is its president.

The company has about 77 employees, and because of widespread interest in green technology, it has been adding clients, Bier said. But, he said, finding entry-level people has been hard, even though the company is offering starting salaries of $50,000 annually for programmers.

"That sounds like someone making that should be OK," Bier said. "But these people have a college degree. They have loans to pay off and they may have offers from places like Raleigh, [N.C.]. They can get a house for less down there. Their money goes further, and they don't need to shovel their driveway."

T.M. Bier is looking for entry-level energy engineers, entry-level or more seasoned software programmers, entry-level air-conditioner mechanics, electricians desiring to work with computer systems, some sales people, and even an entry-level driver. The driver would be paid $12 to $14 an hour, Bier said.

"There is a problem recruiting young engineers on Long Island," Bier said. "The cost of living here is very high."

There has been talk from many sectors on the Island about the need for more affordable housing, said Long Island Association economist Pearl Kamer. "We need more affordable rental units, town houses and condos, which young people can readily afford," Kamer said.

There is, Kamer said, also somewhat of a skills mismatch on the Island. "We know we have some unemployment" because of the weak economy. "But longer term, our educational institutions face a huge challenge to train and retrain [students] for the new jobs."

Bier said his company plans to fight its way through the problem.

"We're not threatening to leave Long Island," Bier said. "We're going to make this happen here."