Jobs Picture: Where to Find Them

On Long Island, where the unemployment rate is the lowest in the state, those looking for work would do well to seek out jobs in healthcare and professional and business services. Those are two of the sectors, which year over year, enjoyed gains.

That’s according to state labor reports, the latest of which were released Tuesday.

Another promising sector? Financial services, where the salaries are “higher than average,” said Shital Patel, Long Island labor market analyst for the New York State Department of Labor Division of Research and Statistics. 

“We’ve seen strong job growth,” Patel said. “It’s all good things.”

Overall, Long Island added 20,100 jobs, up 2 percent from a year ago.

But if you lack experience in the sectors that are hiring, take heart. You may qualify for what’s called a “599 Grant.” That’s a state program that allows eligible job seekers to collect unemployment while taking classes. More information is available at the Labor Department’s One-Stop Career Centers in Hicksville, Massapequa and Hempstead, and on the Labor Department’s website.

As for Long Island’s unemployment rate, it remained flat at 7.2 percent, unchanged from a year ago. Still, the region outperformed New York state, which was at 8.7 percent, and the nation at 8.4 percent.

One contributing factor for the region’s flat rate “may be due to discouraged workers re-entering the labor force,” Patel said.

Unemployment in North Hempstead was 5.9 percent in March, down from 6.4 percent in February; it was at 5.7 percent a year ago. There were 6,600 North Hempstead residents listed as unemployed in March, down from 7,200 in February; there were 6,400 unemployed people a year ago.

In Nassau County, the unemployment fell to 6.7 percent in March, down from 7.2 percent in February. It was at 6.6 percent a year ago.  There were 45,600 Nassau County residents listed as unemployed in March, down from 48,700 in February; there 44,800 unemployed people a year ago.

Job gains:

• Professional and business services. Added 10,100 jobs
• Healthcare and social assistance. Added 4,600 jobs.
• Financial Activities. Added 2,900 jobs.

Job losses:

• Natural Resources, Mining And Construction. Lost 3,600 jobs.
• Specialty Trade Contractors. Lost 3,800 jobs.
• Local Government Education (Public Schools). Lost 3,500 jobs.