The state’s worker shortage eased a bit in June, but employers are still struggling to find employees in a tight labor market, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Connecticut employers reported 105,000 job openings at the end of June, down from 119,000 open positions at the end of May.
The June number was flat with April’s job openings and better than the 115,000 available positions in March, according to BLS data.
Nationally, there were 10.7 million jobs open in the United States at the end of June, as the state and country grapple with labor shortages impacting a wide range of industries.
In June, job openings rates decreased in 17 states, increased in two states, and were little changed in 31 states and the District of Columbia, BLS data shows.
In addition, an estimated 39,000 Connecticut workers quit their jobs in June, BLS data shows. In June 2021, 36,000 Connecticut workers quit their jobs.
The number of June hires in Connecticut decreased slightly to 63,000 compared to 71,000 in May.
Connecticut companies also collectively laid off 11,000 workers in June, down from 16,000 layoffs in May.
On Thursday, the state Department of Labor released data showing Connecticut added 6,500 jobs in July, lowering the state’s unemployment rate to 3.7%.
Despite the growth, Connecticut still has only recovered 86.1% of the 289,400 jobs lost during March and April 2020, when the pandemic temporarily shut down significant parts of the state’s economy. The private sector is 88.3% recovered from the April 2020 COVID employment trough.
