Nassau County’s previously stable unemployment rates are rapidly eroding in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
The New York Labor Department Tuesday released preliminary unemployment rates for Nassau County in February, which show a fairly steady jobs landscape prior to the COVID-19 crisis. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 3.8 percent in January to 3.7 percent in February.
But elected officials warn that the toll taken by the virus is already evident in widespread job losses that will be reflected in the March numbers and beyond.
Among those who have been laid off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is 39-year-old Nassau County resident and physical therapist Marivic Vasquez. The outpatient clinic where she worked shut down last weekend.
“People were afraid to come in, and we didn’t really have any personal protective equipment,” she told MarketWatch. “[It’s] hopefully just a furlough, but I’m not sure if I’ll have a company to come back to.”
More than 80,000 people statewide applied for unemployment benefits with the New York Department of Labor during the week of Monday, March 16. It is predicted that employment rates will plummet for weeks, and possibly months, to come, as the coronavirus continues to spread.
A total of 3.28 million people filed unemployment claims across the United States last week, up from 282,000 the previous week, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
“We are seeing a spike in volume that is comparable to post 9/11,” said Labor Department spokeswoman Deanna Cohen, “but make no mistake. Anyone entitled to these benefits is going to receive them in a timely manner.”
The coronavirus stimulus bill that the Senate approved March 25 will help Long Island most through its “aid to hospitals, aid to state and local governments, and the combined unemployment insurance and grants to small businesses,” said U.S. Peter King (R-Nassau).
About $16 billion of the package is set aside for increased unemployment compensation for New York residents who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The aid package, which U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) dubbed “unemployment on steroids,” adds $600 per week in unemployment payments for a maximum of four months.
“It’s just a first down payment,” U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said of the unemployment package. “It’s really important that people realize we are in triage now. We are trying to meet the most urgent needs first.”
Those who are temporarily unable to work because they are sick, quarantined or have to care for a child as a result of coronavirus will be eligible for unemployment benefits as well.
New Yorkers can now receive unemployment benefits for up to 39 weeks, which constitutes a 13-week extension.
On March 13, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would waive the usual seven-day waiting period to apply. Workers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic flocked to the New York Labor Department website.
Laid-off workers reported March 16 that the website was crashing repeatedly, likely due to the sudden flood of users. The issue has since been addressed.
Nassau County residents who are laid off can contact the HempsteadWorks Career Center at (516) 485–5000 or go to www.hempsteadworks.com, or the Hicksville Career Center at (516) 934–8532 or go to www.thewp.com.
To file for unemployment benefits, go to https://applications.labor.ny.gov. You will be prompted to enter your NY.GOV ID. Follow the instructions to file a claim, and submit the application.
