Local libraries strive to get residents back to work

For several years, unemployment in the community and other areas of the Town of Hempstead has been a major issue, and local libraries have been working to put residents back to work.

The Town of Hempstead’s unemployment rate is nearly 7.3 percent, right around where it has been for the last couple of years.

Compared to Long Island’s average unemployment rate, nearly 8 percent, and the nationwide rate, which is currently around 9.4 percent, the Town of Hempstead is faring pretty well. However, the town’s unemployment rate is still much higher than it was a couple of years ago.

In 2008, the Town of Hempstead’s average unemployment rate was 4.9 percent; in 2007, it was 3.9 percent.

In the fall, the Franklin Square Public Library hosted resume writing and job searching programs in hopes of getting the community back to work. Additionally, the library has had a career-focused database, “Learning Express Library,” on its website for the past two years.

Peggy Smith, assistant director at the Franklin Square Public Library, said the library is planning to hold programs related to job search strategies, computer skills and resume-building in fall 2011.

On Oct. 27, hundreds of local residents attended a job fair held by the Elmont Memorial Library and Hempstead Works.

“It was such a big turnout. So many people were here,” said Maggie Gough, director of the library.

Gough said people were lined up in the library’s southeast hallway, spanning nearly 30 feet, with resumes in hands. She added the library is continuing to look for additional ways to offer job assistance, including holding another job fair this spring and possibly building a Career Center.

Pat Nicolosi, president of the Elmont East End Civic Association, said although the Elmont library’s job fair was helpful, its turnout proved that the community’s need for more jobs is dire.

“When you hold job fairs, you shouldn’t have that kind of turnout. Ten years ago, no one would have shown up,” he said. “People are hurting for work … children who graduated last year are dealing with a tough time finding any job.”

Nicolosi said he believes the state needs to create more incentives for businesses so they can stay in state and create jobs. He explained that many businesses don’t have the capacity to hire, and others are leaving the state and taking jobs elsewhere.

“New York state is in a terrible situation. Not only is the state losing people who go to jobs in China, India or other countries, it is losing people who are moving outside of the state, to lower-taxing states,” he said.

Nicolosi said in addition to an increase in unemployment over the last couple of years, in the state and the Town of Hempstead, there is an under-employment problem.

“People have been taking major pay cuts, and they still have their jobs, so they aren’t counted in the unemployment statistics,” he explained.

Ed Ambrosino, councilman of the Town of Hempstead, agreed.

“I see more people out of work each and every day, and the government needs to do more,” he said. “We need to create a business-selling environment with lower taxes that will give private entities the economic incentive to hire people.”

Ambrosino said he is looking into using economic incentive packages and the Industrial Development Agency, which provides incentives for incoming businesses and tax-exempt municipal financing, to create more jobs.