Connecticut added 5,000 jobs in May

Connecticut generated 5,000 new jobs in May to a total of 1.69 million, according to data from the state”™s Department of Labor. The 0.3% uptick resulted in a one-tenth of a percentage point decline in the state’s unemployment rate to 3.7%, which is identical to the U.S. unemployment rate.

Furthermore, the April 2023 preliminary overall payroll decline of 900 positions was revised higher by 2,100 to a 1,200 (0.1%) job gain.

“Job growth averaged 3,680 per month during the first five months of 2023 with the unemployment rate back to the November 2019 level,” said Patrick Flaherty, director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “We have seen job growth slow later in the year in recent years, and that may happen again in 2023. However, the labor market is strong as we approach the summer.”

Connecticut’s private sector employment increased by 4,800 (0.3%) jobs in May to 1.46 million and is higher by 21,000 positions (1.5%) from the May 2022 level (1.43 million). The state’s Private Sector is 99.9% recovered from the April 2020 Covid employment low point.

The government supersector was up by 200 (0.1%) to a level of 230,900 jobs. Combined government employment in the state is 3,900 positions (1.7%) above year-ago levels. The public sector is 74.9% recovered from the overall Covid April 2020 employment trough.

Within Fairfield County, the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk corridor added 1,200 positions and the Greater Danbury area added 400 positions.