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Ms. Lugo is one of the success stories of Staten Island’s uptick on the jobsfront, said John Mastellone, DOL’s borough representative.The most recent DOL statistics show Island unemployment was 7.9 percent inDecember, down from 8.2 percent in November — and way down from 9.2percent in December 2009.Unemployment was 8.6 percent citywide in December and 8 percent in NewYork state.View full sizeMs. Lugo flashes a smileoutside Staten IslandUniversity Hospital, OceanBreeze.The current national unemployment rate is 8.9 percent, at its lowest level sinceApril 2009. It has been falling steadily since November, when it was 9.8percent, marking the sharpest three-month decline since 1983.Still, the number of people unemployed nationally — 13.7 million — is doublewhat it was before the recession.Staten Island fell in the middle of the boroughs on the December unemployment front, with the Bronx andBrooklyn clocking in at 12 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively, and 7.7 percent and 7 percent for Queensand Manhattan.Unemployment on the Island in December numbered some 19,300 Islanders, down from 20,100 inNovember.Mastellone said there was the “usual seasonal jump” in holiday retail sales jobs here.He also attributed the “slow turnaround” to a “little bit” of an increase in the number of jobs for commercialdrivers, such as FedEx and UPS, as well as borough car services.However, Linda Baran, CEO of the StatenIsland Chamber of Commerce, said from asmall business perspective, there isn’t a lotto be enthusiastic about — yet.“We are still in a holding pattern,” said Ms.Baran. “Small businesses are still nothiring; people are still being let go. Thereis still uncertainty out there; still ahesitancy to hire.”Page 163 of 179