Eviction moratorium extended to Feb. 9
Unemployment rises to 8.2% amid virus resurgence in fall
Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Thursday that Connecticut’s eviction moratorium, which was set to expire on Dec. 31, would be extended through Feb. 9. The extension comes amid revelations that thousands of Connecticut households could lose their homes in 2021, according to housing advocates.
Connecticut employers cut 1,600 jobs in November, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday, after four months of slowing job growth as the pandemic continues to batter Connecticut’s workforce and its economy.
The labor department also revised downward October’s estimate of 14,100 jobs gained to 11,000.
“The higher COVIDrates this fall caused closures and a pause in economic activity; these unemployment numbers generally reflect what people are seeing in terms of curtailed dining and retail,” Kurt Westby, the state labor commissioner, said.
The state’s unemployment rate stood at 8.2%, up from 6.1% in October as reported by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employers created 17,000 jobs in September, fewer than the 21,000 jobs created in August and the 32,300 in July. A total of 77,300 were created in June and 28,400 in May. The state hit bottom in March and April when employers shed 300,000 jobs as Gov. Ned Lamont ordered businesses to close to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The job gains through the summer and fall were encouraging and, as of November, the state has regained 64.5% of the jobs lost in March and April.