Hundreds Attend Jobs Fair In Nassau County
GARDEN CITY, NY (WCBS 880/AP) - An overflow crowd was in attendance at a jobs fair in Garden City today.
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James Tejada is an engineer and one of the hundreds at the Nassau County Career Jobs Fair looking for work.
"You always have to be positive, you know, optimistic. You can point your fingers at whoever you want but at the end of the day, it's how you market yourself," he told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.
Though many said they were too busy looking for work to have time to blame anyone for their unemployment.
There were all ages, all backgrounds, all in search of the same thing - a job.
"It's sad almost to see so many people. It's not even young people. It's every single age," said Tejada.
The event at the Cradle of Aviation Museum had employers seeking candidates for all positions including entry and management level, licensed professionals and technicians.
Unemployment rates fell in half of U.S. states last month, a sign that September's pickup in hiring was felt around the country.
The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates dropped in 25 states, rose in 14 and stayed the same in 11. That's an improvement from August, when unemployment rose in 26 states.
Nationwide, employers added 103,000 net jobs in September, nearly double the number created in August. And the number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell to a six-month low, according to a four-week average calculated by the government. That has helped calm fears that the economy was sliding into another recession, as have other recent data.
Still, hiring remains sluggish. The national unemployment rate has been stuck near 9 percent for more than two years. Employers pulled back on hiring this spring after seeing less demand from consumers. Higher food and gas prices forced consumers to rein in spending.
Job seekers still see the situation as being grim.
"I do anything I can," said one man. "It's just too rough out here now."
"I'm willing to travel. I'm willing to go just about anywhere for a secure job," said another.
Have you been left without a job in this economy? Share your story below.
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
