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It Was a Positive Year for Jobs in Connecticut, Despite Weakness in December

neetalparekh via flickr.com
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Creative Commons
Connecticut's unemployment rate has climbed to 5.2 percent.

Connecticut’s unemployment rate jogged upward in December, even as the state added 300 jobs. 

The unemployment rate, which is calculated from a survey of households, went up one-tenth of one percent to 5.2 percent. That's the first time it had risen since February.

Six of ten sectors of Connecticut's economy added jobs in the month, including leisure and hospitality, as well as trade, transport, and utilities.

At the same time, the monthly jobs total for November was revised upward to a robust 5,800 jobs added.

The last calendar year appears to have been one of the state’s strongest recent years for job growth, adding 22,600 jobs over the 12 months for 2015. That followed an even stronger year in 2014, when Connecticut added 25,000 jobs, its best year since 1998.

The full year figures for 2015 will be revised and finalized in March, when payroll records become available.

Economists in the state were less than impressed with December's numbers, however. Don Klepper Smith of Datacore Partners in New Haven called the jobs report "well below expectations," particularly given strong national jobs numbers in the month.

"It's certainly not a spectacular report," said Peter Gioia of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, "but it is a positive report. We really need to make sure that we make the right public policy moves to encourage companies to invest and add jobs." 

Credit Office of Research / Connecticut Department of Labor
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Connecticut Department of Labor
Connecticut's unemployment rate compared to the national average.

Electric Boat is one of the companies that is adding jobs. The submarine maker forecast Monday that it will add 800 jobs in Connecticut this year, as it continues construction on the Virginia Class subs.

EB is also ramping up for the Ohio replacement program. It said continued robust defense spending could drive it to expand its workforce by about 4,000 positions over the next 15 years.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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