Connecticut’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.5% in February to 8.3% in March, according to new data released by the state Department of Labor, marking the third consecutive monthly improvement in the state’s jobless figures.
In total, the state added 5,400 non-farming positions, mainly due to growth in sectors such as health services, education, leisure, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing. Gains in those industries offset losses in professional and business services, transportation, utilities, and information services.
The private sector expanded by 5,000 jobs, while government employment ticked up by 400 jobs.
The New Haven area led the way in job creation, adding 5,500 positions, followed by the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk region (1,100 jobs), the Norwich-New London market (900 jobs), the Danbury area (200 jobs), and the Waterbury region (100 jobs).
The Hartford market, meanwhile, shed 200 positions.
Connecticut is now believed to have recovered about 176,400 jobs, or about 60%, of the 292,400 positions lost during the COVID-19 lockdowns of March and April 2020. Just before the pandemic reached the eastern U.S., Connecticut’s jobless rate stood at 3.8%.
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