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The good pay news for Connecticut's manufacturing workforce is even better for the state's jobless, many of whom will soon see the maximum they collect weekly climb by $18, authorities say.

State Labor Department Commissioner Dennis C. Murphy announced Friday that the maximum will climb to $591 from $573, starting with claims filed on or after Oct. 7.

The trigger for the state's jobless-benefit hike is tied directly to the average manufacturing wage in the state. That average is at $1,046 a week, up from $996 a year ago, the state labor agency said.

The agency reviews the average manufacturing wage annually to determine the maximum benefit for jobless workers.

Individuals who established a claim before Oct. 7 and who have been collecting unemployment insurance benefits will be unaffected by the increase. The weekly dependency allowance for each dependent, at $15 with a maximum of $75, remains unchanged.

For the 12 months ending Aug. 31, regular jobless benefits averaged $308 per week and claimants received an average 18.6 weeks of compensation, not including federal extensions, the state labor department said. A year earlier, weekly benefit payments averaged $298 for an average of 19.6 weeks.

Regular state unemployment benefits are funded by a separate assessment paid by 98,300

Connecticut employers. The tax is based on the first $15,000 of each worker's annual wage.

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