Connecticut Unemployment

Friday, January 26th, 2007
Posted by Amelia Figueroa, National Business Compliance Department
The Connecticut unemployment outlook continues sunny and bright, even if the winter weather is not. In December, the state gained 1,200 jobs as the employment expansion of 2006 continued. The December figures are the most recent available.

The state’s non-farm employment rate in December was 1,679,200, an increase of 1,200 jobs from the November numbers, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor. This is a gain of 10,600 jobs over the December count of 1,668,600 jobs after making seasonal adjustments. Employment data is based on a survey of business establishments.

“While the job gains we saw in 2006 certainly represent good news for the citizens of Connecticut, our goal of attracting new business to our state and expanding those already operating here must continue,” said Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. “We must make every effort to ensure that our workforce has the education and skills needed to fill these new jobs now, as well as those in the future.”

According to State Labor Economist John Tirinzonie, the 2006 holiday season was very profitable for the state economy. “With the noticeable increase in jobs for December, we now are up 5,000 over the last three months. This brings our total employment gain for the year to an estimated 10,600 jobs. The state has now posted an additional 39,400 new jobs since our low point in September of 2003, with many key industry sectors showing positive growth. As of now, the employment outlook for Connecticut in 2007 should come close to the increase we experienced this past year, although employment in parts of the manufacturing sector may be the one soft spot in our economic performance,” Tirinzonie said.

The professional and business services sector showed the largest gain with 1,200 new jobs in 2006. The construction industry also experienced increases, with 600 new jobs. Job growth in other sectors included 300 jobs in information and 300 jobs in financial activities. Four sectors remained unchanged over the year. These include trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and government.