State gains 5,700 net jobs in January from December

Connecticut added 5,700 net jobs in January from the previous month, reaching a seasonally adjusted level of 1,683,200, according to the latest data from the state Department of Labor.

The state”™s unemployment rate for January increased slightly by one tenth of a point to 4.5 percent from December, but was a full percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of the state”™s unemployed increased by 3,000 residents in January compared with December unemployment insurance filings.

For 2016, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 5,400 jobs after the annual benchmark revision process.

The state’s job loss in December last year, first reported at 1,700 jobs, was revised upward to 700 jobs lost from November employment. On an annual basis, job growth was essentially flat in December compared with December 2015 after benchmark revisions, according to the Labor Department.