Huntington unemployment is on the rise at a time when there are fewer jobs across Long Island, according to Labor Department reports released Tuesday.

Huntington saw a slight bump in unemployment this month at 6.3 percent, up from 6 percent in November. The town's unemployment rate was a hair lower last December at 6.2 percent.

In Suffolk County, the December unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, up from 6.7 percent in November and down from 7.3 percent last year.

To Shital Patel, an analyst for the Labor Department in Hicksville, the latest reports “suggest a decline in the labor force” possibly due to discouraged workers who are no longer seeking jobs, as well as people retiring or moving out of the region, she said.

The continuing trend, she added, indicates that we’re in the midst of a recession.

Job losses hit the region in such sectors as leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, information, and construction. Government employment also took a hit, losing 3,100 jobs. Sectors adding jobs included health services, professional and business services, financial activities, and trade, transportation and utilities; Patel pointed out, however, that the Labor Department reports do not indicate whether these are high or low paying jobs.

Still, there was some solid good news: Long Island retailers had a pretty healthy season for the month of December, adding 3,100 jobs from the prior year–- the highest year over year growth since 2000, Patel said.

That growth, she said, suggests confidence for the retailers.