By Keith M. Phaneuf
The state’s unemployment rate cracked the 8 percent barrier for the first time in more than four years in September and October, falling to 7.9 percent despite more than 4,000 jobs lost, the Department of Labor reported today.
That’s down from an 8.1 percent jobless rate in August. Connecticut still lags the nation, which has a 7.3 percent unemployment rate.
Connecticut, like other states, did not report labor statistics for September one month ago. Those reports were blocked by the unavailability of key job data during the federal government shutdown.
“The September and October reports are sending mixed signals about Connecticut’s labor markets,” Andy Condon, director of the state labor department’s Office of Research, said. “The weeks leading up to the federal government shutdown, evidently, led to increased economic uncertainty and hiring indecision across the state. On a positive note, the state’s unemployment rate has declined for two months in a row.”
Click here for more of story
