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September 18, 2023

CT’s unemployment at 3.6% as employers continue adding jobs

YEHYUN KIM / CTMIRROR.ORG Connecticut manufacturers added 400 jobs in August, according to the state Department of Labor.
By Andrew Larson

Connecticut’s unemployment rate remains at 3.6%, the state Department of Labor said Monday, after employers added about 2,100 jobs in August.

The jobless rate is below the national average of 3.8% and is at a four-year low, the agency said in an announcement Monday.

The private sector totaled 1.5 million jobs in August, which is 0.2% higher than in August 2022. 

The state now considers the private sector fully recovered from the April 2020 low point of 1.2 million jobs during the COVID lockdown.

The DOL said the private sector has gained 267,700 jobs since April 2020. That’s 1,700 more than the 266,000 jobs lost during the pandemic, the agency noted.

“While major national issues such as interest rate increases and energy costs remain a concern, Connecticut’s economy has shown resilience and strength in recovery,” DOL Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo said. “Current numbers show that the private sector has added back all the jobs lost during the pandemic, the unemployment rate remains low and job gains have been balanced across industry sectors — all indicators of continued economic stability.”

However, she warned that employers are still facing a tight labor market, which could hamper growth.
 
Connecticut has about 25,000 weekly unemployment filers. There are 77,000 job postings statewide, down from a high of 120,000 during the pandemic.

Construction is at its highest level since October 2008, the DOL said.

The six industry supersectors that increased employment in August 2023 were:

  • Educational and Health Services: +800, 0.2%, 354,800
  • Professional and Business Services: +700, 0.3%, 224,400
  • Construction and Mining: +500, 0.8%, 62,300
  • Trade, Transportation & Utilities: +500, 0.2%, 300,300
  • Manufacturing: +400, 0.3%, 157,600
  • Information +200, 0.6%, 31,800

The four industry supersectors that decreased jobs in August 2023 were:

  • Other Services: -400, -0.7%, 61,000
  • Leisure and Hospitality: -300, -0.2%, 155,600
  • Financial Activities: -200, -0.2%, 114,700
  • Government: -100, -0.04%, 230,800

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