Connecticut employers are still having a difficult time filling open positions as the number of available jobs continues to outpace the number of potential workers in the state who can fill them.
Connecticut employers reported 104,000 job openings at the end of March, up 6.1% from 98,000 job openings reported at the end of February, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nationally, there were 9.6 million jobs open in the United States at the end of March, down from 9.9 million open jobs in February, BLS data shows.
At the end of March, the number of job openings decreased in 15 states, increased in one state and the District of Columbia, and remained unchanged in remaining states, BLS data shows.
In addition, an estimated 33,000 Connecticut workers quit their jobs in March, BLS data shows, flat from the previous month.
The number of March hires in Connecticut was 60,000, up from 54,000 in February.
Connecticut companies also collectively laid off 20,000 workers in March, up from 15,000 layoffs in February.
In April, the state Department of Labor released data showing job growth slowed in Connecticut during the month of March.
Connecticut employers added 1,100 jobs in March, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4%, labor officials said. The U.S. unemployment rate is 3.5%.
The March results followed higher-than-expected jobs gains recorded in January and February, when employers in the state added nearly 14,000 jobs.
The brisk hiring pace early in the year was a result of warm winter weather that had a particular impact on construction hiring, according to Patrick Flaherty, director DOL’s office of research.
Overall, the state has now recovered 96.7% (279,700) of the 289,100 jobs lost during the 2020 COVID lockdown period.
