Connecticut saw the addition of 300 net jobs in April to a level of 1,695,300 seasonally adjusted, according to new data from the state”™s Department of Labor, which also revised the March report of a 1,300 job loss into a gain of 300 that resulted in a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8%.
During April, private-sector employment grew by 500 jobs but the government supersector workforce shed 200 jobs. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk corridor was the labor market within the state to add jobs last month with a gain of 300 positions, while the Danbury and Waterbury markets each lost 100 positions, Norwich-New London-Westerly lost 500 and Hartford and New Haven both lost 800. Over the past year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 11,600 jobs.
“With the small increase in April and the larger positive revision of March data, the 2019 job growth picture has changed from one of slight declines to slight growth,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research. “Annual job growth is actually stronger than last year at this time, as the first four months of 2018 were very weak.”
However, Pete Gioia, economic adviser with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, was skeptical over claims of workforce strength.
“This growth has been lethargic and is subpar compared with what we’re seeing in other parts of the country and New England,” he said. “We have in place a base that is strong that could power very good job growth, including innovation, advanced manufacturing, and other areas. Connecticut needs to create the conditions that are conducive for growth. We don’t have that right now. We have to allow growth to happen here instead of elsewhere.”
