Connecticut lost nearly 5,000 jobs in March as the unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, according to new data from the state Department of Labor.
Connecticut Business & Industry Association President and CEO Chris DiPentima reacted to the numbers, saying that Connecticut has lost 4,700 jobs since the beginning of the year, reversing a growth trend.
“Job openings in Connecticut have grown 17% since before the pandemic — the biggest increase in the region and more than double the national rate of 8%,” DiPentima said. “Over that same period, the labor force has only grown 1.3% — second slowest in the region and well behind the national rate of 3.8%.”
The state shed 4,500 jobs in March, a 0.3% decline, and the unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point from February.
A year ago, the unemployment rate was 3.2%.
“The unemployment rate remains low by historic standards despite recent small increases,” said Patrick Flaherty, director of the Office of Research at the Department of Labor. “Private sector jobs reached an all-time high in January. While they have come down over the past two months, they remain
more than 10,000 jobs above their pre-pandemic high.”
The private education and health services supersector saw the largest drop, losing 2,100 positions in March, possibly due to a reduction in student workers during spring break, according to the DOL.
Meantime, the government supersector added 300 jobs, bringing its total number of positions to 234,800.
Financial activities and trade, transportation, and utilities were the other two industry supersectors that added jobs in March.
Hartford was among the labor market areas that added positions. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury market added 700 jobs, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford market added 400 and the Waterbury-Shelton market added 100.
The market area covering New Haven lost 2,100 positions and Norwich-London-Willimantic lost 200.
Hourly earnings averaged $39.08 in March, which was $1.64 higher than a year earlier.
