Connecticut added 11,500 jobs in July, making it the most substantial improvement since the jobs recovery began in February 2010.
The number of non-farm jobs grew 0.7 percent in July to a total of  1,661,900 positions, seasonally adjusted. So far private companies have recovered 17,900 jobs this year and about 58 percent of all the 121,200 jobs lost during the recession.
“We are seeing substantial improvement over last year,” said Andy Condon, Office of Research director at the Labor Department, in a statement. “If this level of growth continues, we should see improvements in the state”™s unemployment rate in the near future.”
Yet while job gains reflected the fifth consecutive month of growth, the unemployment rate did tick up to 8.1 percent, from 8 percent in June with more people seeking employment. Year over year, however the rate has improved by 0.5 percentage points.
Job gains in July reflects the fifth consecutive month of job growth, with seven of the 10 major industries gaining positions. Growth was actually led by new jobs in the government sector, followed by gains in professional and business services. The biggest losses came from construction and manufacturing. Hartford and Fairfield County added the most jobs.
