Unemployment Rises, and Job Seekers in Colts Neck Turn to Each Other for Support

Last Friday, the latest job numbers announced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that US employers added 157,000 jobs in January.

Still, the national unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent in December.

In Colts Neck, a networking group is taking a proactive approach to fight the trend. The local chapter of Neighbors Helping Neighbors USA, a peer led free networking group, meets once a week at the Colts Neck Library.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported in USA Today, 10,000 networking groups such as this exist today.

Its founder is John Fugazzie, a marketing executive who had endured a rocky ride in the job market, and is currently laid off again according to USA Today. Since beginning the group in January, 2011 in River Edge, he has inspired 25 other chapters to take root in eight NJ counties. 

Fugazzie told USA Today, "Making an impact on people's lives is so much better than hitting a sales target."

The public is invited to attend NHN meetings, which are free. The Colts Neck chapter of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Career Transition Support and Networking Group group meets most Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the library.

You can find meeting dates on our Marlboro-Colts Neck Patch community calendar.