- Connecticut adds 5,300 jobs in October, while September’s gains are revised upward
- The state has seen 10 consecutive months of job growth and has recovered 72.8 percent of the jobs lost at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic
- State officials say the data shows economic strength, though Connecticut’s unemployment rate also remains above the national rate
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Jobs growth has continued in Connecticut for the 10th consecutive month, with Department of Labor officials saying the data shows healthy economic improvement in the state.
Another 5,300 jobs were added to the Connecticut economy in October, while September’s figures were revised upward from 4,700 to 6,500. The unemployment rate ticked down 0.4 points to 6.4 percent.
“There is still work to do across all sectors to regain the jobs lost during the pandemic shutdown, but the data signal a stable economic recovery is underway,” said Dante Bartolomeo, interim commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor. “We’ve been saying this consistently, but it bears repeating that this steady improvement is in part because Connecticut residents have taken the virus seriously and responded admirably by wearing masks, getting vaccinated, and socially distancing. This has helped keep the virus in check and our economy is stronger for it.”
October marked the 10th consecutive month of job growth in Connecticut, and the state has recovered 72.8 percent of the 292,400 jobs it lost at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrick Flaherty, the department’s director of research, said the data also shows a healthy trend of accelerating growth as well as broad growth across different industry sectors.
- Private sector jobs in October were up 5,900 from September and 40,300 from October 2020; the monthly gain was offset by government jobs, which fell by 600
- Six sectors experienced growth, led by education and health services (1,400 jobs), financial activities (1,300 jobs), and professional and business activities (1,300 jobs)
- The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is back to its pre-pandemic level
- Sectors with job losses included construction and mining (300 jobs), manufacturing (300 jobs), and information (100 jobs)
- On an annual basis, the largest gains have been in leisure and hospitality (13,300 jobs), education and health services (9,300 jobs), and professional and business services (8,400 jobs); there have been annual decreases in government (down 1,200 jobs), information (down 1,100 jobs), and financial activities (down 800 jobs)
- The average Connecticut worker had a 33.9-hour work week and hourly earnings of $34.07 – an annual increase of just seven cents
- The Connecticut Department of Labor is anticipating that the state will trigger off the 13-week extended benefits early next year; about 20,000 of the 45,000 weekly unemployment filers in Connecticut are using extended benefits
- Connecticut’s unemployment rate remains above the national rate, which stood at 4.6 percent in October
