After leading the state in job growth in September, the New Haven region shed 2,500 jobs in October, but the number of jobs was still up by 2,100 over last year, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
New Haven’s job losses were the highest among Connecticut’s six Labor Market Areas and mirror a statewide trend. Connecticut as a whole lost 6,600 jobs in October, but state officials said the loss was exaggerated because the jobs shed were mostly seasonal.
“October’s decline of 6,600 seasonally adjusted payroll jobs is not good news, but it is not as bad as it appears,” said labor department research Director Andy Condon. “Nearly half of the decline comes from the very seasonal leisure and hospitality sector. This loss is exaggerated because the very high summer peak season employment levels were well ahead of last year.”
The Waterbury labor market lost 100 jobs, the labor department said.
Despite the large job losses, Connecticut’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.5 percent in October, up from 4.6 percent last month and in October 2016. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 percent.
The labor department also revised its previous estimate of 2,000 jobs lost statewide in September, saying there was actually a 300-job gain.
Natalie Missakian can be reached at news@newhavenbiz.com
