More than 2,000 attend jobs fair in Elmont

In an effort to alleviate the unemployment problem in Elmont and surrounding communities, the Elmont Chamber of Commerce hosted its first jobs fair at the Elmont Memorial Library on Nov. 5.

The fair was intended for individuals seeking new jobs, careers or skills, and a wide range of companies attended, including banking, finance, retail, real estate development and insurance firms. Attending companies included the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Astoria Federal Savings, Utopia, the United Postal Service, New York Life Insurance Co. and New York Racing. Attendees met face-to-face with recruiters and — according to the chamber — decision-makers from some of the region’s top employers.

Despite decreasing unemployment rates in both Nassau County and New York state, unemployment continues to be a serious issue on Long Island.

Nassau County’s unemployment rate is currently 6.8 percent — as of July, the Department of Labor’s most current statistics — which is down from 7.2 percent in 2010. The number of unemployed county residents is likely much higher, however, since the Department of Labor does not count those who have stopped looking for jobs.
The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the county’s, at 8 percent — down from 8.6 in July 2010.

Larry Thompson, 41, of Rosedale, Queens, attended the jobs fair on Saturday. Thompson, who is married and the father of two children, an 18-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter, said he was laid off from his position as a maintenance supervisor at a Queens church in January, and hasn’t been able to find work since, despite attending several jobs fairs and expos, and applying for various positions.

Thompson said that he submitted eight resumés at the fair on Saturday, and has since applied online for jobs with Geico, Belmont Park, and Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities — a nonprofit agency,. He added that he’s interested in managerial, maintenance and food service work.