(Wethersfield, CT) – Today, Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo released the May jobs report showing another drop in the unemployment rate, down 0.2% to 4.2%. Employers in the state added an estimated 1,600 jobs. April job number revisions show that 1,400 jobs were added, revised slightly down from the estimated 1,600 reported last month. As expected, unemployment weekly filings ticked up slightly due to seasonal layoffs and are now just above 17,000.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “Connecticut continues to have high workforce participation and the job market remains a strong one for job seekers. Positive indicators this month include another drop in the unemployment rate and good jobs numbers out of the private sector. It’s important to note that economists are watching energy prices for impacts on residents and businesses, as well as inflation, the stock market, and other factors that would impact Connecticut’s financial services sector.”
CTDOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said, “This month we saw good news from the food services and hospitality sectors; trends we hope will continue as we head into summer. Additionally, the 2022 household survey data seems to bear out what economists had opined during the pandemic—workers are leaving payroll jobs to pursue self-employment. Economic recoveries are always uneven, however, this was a solid jobs report.”
With 100,000 jobs available in the state, CTDOL reminds residents that job search, resume, and training assistance is available free of charge at the state’s American Job Centers and urges job seekers, employers, and recruiters to register with CTHires, the state’s job bank.
TOPLINE POINTS FROM THE REPORT:
Seven in 10 supersectors increased employment. Largest job gains: private education added 1,300 jobs; restaurants and hotels added 1,000 jobs; and technical and scientific services (payroll, IT, research, and others) added 700 jobs.
- Private sector jobs increased; the sector is more than 86% recovered from the pandemic closures.
- State government employment declined for the sixth consecutive month due to retirements and is now 4,200 jobs below pre-pandemic levels.
- The public sector—federal, state, local, and tribal employment—is below 40% recovered.
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