Connecticut businesses added about 3,300 jobs in June, as the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% — its lowest level since August 2023, according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.
The state has experienced six consecutive months of job growth, posting an increase of 17,900 jobs during the first half of the year. In all of 2023, the state added 18,400 jobs.
“Private sector payroll has reached a new high and put Connecticut in a strong position going into the second half of 2024,” said DOL Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo. “The state’s economy remains steady and stable with sustainable growth across a broad range of industries, a low unemployment rate, and good opportunities for job seekers.”
Connecticut had 1,713,700 payroll jobs in June and has now recovered 105.2% of the jobs lost during the pandemic shutdown, according to the report.
Of those, 1,476,600 are jobs in the private sector — an all-time high for Connecticut.
Also, the state’s June labor force participation rate was 64.6%, above the national average of 62.6%.
Connecticut had an estimated 90,000 job openings in June, the report said.
Connecticut Business & Industry Association President and CEO Chris DiPentima said the state’s economic momentum is “heartening,” noting significant job gains in education and health services, the government sector, and leisure and hospitality.
He also pointed to CNBC’s list of “America’s Top States For Business 2024,” released earlier this month, in which Connecticut dropped one spot to No. 32.
“Connecticut’s high cost of living, and high cost of doing business hamper us from growing the population and unlocking our state’s full economic potential,” he said.
DiPentima also noted that 1,100 people dropped out of the state’s labor force in June. He said the state needs to do more to connect more than 74,000 residents who are looking for jobs with the 90,000 openings available.
