Connecticut saw the loss of 1,600 positions in December, according to new data from the state”™s Department of Labor. This 0.1% decline from the previous month did not impact the state’s unemployment rate, which remained unchanged at 4.2%.
The slight decline was attributed to the boost in November of temporary election poll workers. Connecticut’s private sector employment held even in December at 1.4 million while the government supersector shed 1,600 jobs to a level of 226,700.
Within Fairfield County, the Greater Danbury area saw no change in its job numbers while the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk corridor added 300 positions.
“In 2022, Connecticut saw strong job gains, an expanding labor force, and declines in unemployment,” said Patrick Flaherty, director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “The Federal Reserve is attempting to slow the national economy to lower inflation, and Connecticut is participating in that slowdown as job growth slowed toward the end of the year. However, the low level of unemployment claims and the high level of job openings indicate that if the nation is able to avoid recession, Connecticut will see continued job gains in 2023.”
