CT’s 6.5 percent jobless rate matches U.S.

Job losses in the financial sector pushed Connecticut unemployment in October to 6.5 percent, equal the national jobless rate, the state Department of Labor said today.

State and U.S. unemployment also were matched at 4.8 percent in October 2007.

"The economic upheaval nationally has clearly spread into Connecticut, pushing employment in our state down significantly this month," said state labor economist John Tirinzonie. "Within the last two months, we now have lost 5,900 jobs, putting total employment at the lowest level this year and below that of October 2007.''

Connecticut employers shed 3,600 jobs in October, Tirinzonie said. He offered a grimmer assessment for the months ahead.

"While some industries still show positive growth over last year,'' he said, "odds are high that we will, overall, continue this losing pattern into at least the first half of 2009.''

Among the state's 10 major industry sectors, only leisure and hospitality added jobs - 700 from September to October, the agency said. Two others - manufacturing and other services were little changed during the month.

On the losing side, educational and health services, which has been the major source of job creation in the state, shed the most jobs, down 1,200 from September.

Next was trade, off by 1,000, followed by financial activities, which lost 700 jobs, the state said. Since July 1,600 financial jobs have disappeared. Peering closer, the agency said most of the lost jobs in October were in finance and insurance.

Recent layoffs in the gaming industry contributed to the overall decline in government employment, down 400 for the month. Information and professional and business services each lost 300, and construction was down 200.

Among the state's metropolitan areas, Waterbury's 7.9 percent jobless rate was the highest in October. Hartford was 6.1 percent. Enfield was 5.6 percent. Danbury's 4.8 percent was the lowest, the labor department said.