Connecticut’s unemployment rate of 5.2 percent is close to the national jobless rate of 5.1 percent. However, it lags behind all but one of the six New England states according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The only state with a higher unemployment rate is Rhode Island at 5.4 percent. However, that state has seen the largest drop in unemployment on a percentage basis year over year. In September 2014 it stood at 7.2 percent. Connecticut’s unemployment at that time was 6.3 percent.
Overall, New England unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Regional Commissioner Deborah A. Brown noted that New England’s jobless rate declined from a year ago when it was 5.7 percent. The national jobless rate was unchanged from August at 5.1 percent
Over the past year, all six New England states had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rhode Island had the largest decline (-1.8 percentage points), followed by Maine (-1.2 points), and Connecticut (-1.1 points).
In September, three of the six New England states had jobless rates that were significantly different from national figures. New Hampshire (3.4 percent), Vermont (3.7 percent), and Maine (4.4 percent) had significantly lower unemployment rates and were among 19 states in the country to do so, according to the bureau. The remaining New England states were among the 19 states that had unemployment rates not appreciably different from that of the nation.
Labor force and unemployment data for prior years reflect adjustments made at the end of each year. The adjusted estimates reflect updated population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions in the other data sources, and model re-estimation.
