Connecticut’s economy shed 300 jobs in July, with most of the loses coming from the hospitality, transportation and utility sectors, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor report released Thursday.
Unemployment remains at 9.1 percent, the same as June and mirroring the national unemployment rate. The total Connecticut nonfarm employment is 1,623,100, an increase of 8,700 jobs over July 2010.
July would seemingly be the third consecutive month of Connecticut job loss since the Connecticut Department of Labor announced losses of 5,500 in May and 4,100 in June. However, the department has revised its June figures, saying the state actually gained 3,300 jobs because local school districts did not have their typical summer layoffs in June because of the extended school year.
“Even with the positive revision to June’s jobs estimate, the direction of job growth in Connecticut is uncertain. On average we’ve added only half the number of jobs each month in 2011 than we’ve added in 2010,” said Labor Statistics Supervisor Salvatore DiPillo, in the report.
Despite the job loss, some Connecticut industries reported job gains in July. Manufacturing had the largest gain at 2,100 jobs; construction was next at 900 jobs; professional business services added 500; education and health services added 500; and the information sector added 300 jobs.
The biggest industries for job loss were: leisure and hospitality at 2,400 jobs lost; trade, transportation and utilities at 1,100 jobs; and financial activities at 300 jobs.
