Yates unemployment rises to 6.2 percent

TRI-COUNTY AREA—The unemployment rate is on the rise in Yates, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties.
The New York State Department of Labor just released, Thursday, Dec. 16, the unemployment rates for November. This is the most recent month there is data available.
For Yates County, the unemployment rate is 6.2 percent. The percentage for this November is up from 5.7 percent in October.
Schuyler County’s unemployment rate for November is 8.1 percent. According to the DOL, this is up one percent from October.
In Steuben County, the unemployment rate is 9.3 percent, up from 8.7 percent in October. According to the DOL, the state’s rate is 8.2 percent.
To combat unemployment, the Southern Tier Library System announced the JobLink program. The project is a mobile training unit to help area residents improve their computer and Internet skills to find employment in 2011. STLS was the recipient of a $255,430 grant administered by the New York State Library to fund the program.
JobLink will provide classes and training in the 48 libraries across Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler, and Allegany Counties in 2011. Another connection will be with Workforce New York offices.
Services will focus on digital literacy skills, training, and support for finding a new career. The JobLink van will be a mobile computer lab complete with a fleet of laptops, a trainer, and technician with the ability to set up in any location. The additional advantage of this grant program is its ability to bring broadband access to individuals who have limited or no access.
Some examples of classes will be using on-line job search engines, completing on-line forms and applications, resume creation, basic computer skills, introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel. There will also be classes on using social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
For more information about JobLink visit joblink.stls.org or contact Anna Ezzolo, program coordinator, at ezzoloa@stls.org or 607-962-3141 Ext. 203.