The state’s unemployment rate shrunk slightly in September to below 9 percent, reversing several months of job losses that caused Connecticut’s jobless rate to soar past the national average, authorities say.
The state added 2,000 jobs in September, which pushed the unemployment rate down to 8.9 percent, according to a report published Thursday by the state Department of Labor. Nationally, the jobless rate stands at 7.8 percent.
Since September 2011, the state’s job market has added 1,900 positions, or experienced 0.1 percent growth. September represents the fourth monthly job gain in 2012, along with four months of losses, and one month with no change in jobs.
Connecticut has recovered only 31,400, or 26.7 percent, of the 117,500 total jobs lost in the March 2008 – February 2010 recessionary downturn, labor officials say.
Six of Connecticut’s ten major industry sectors showed job growth in September 2012, including education and healthcare and social assistance.
Government led job-losing industry sectors in September followed by trade, transportation, and utilities.
