State sees employment numbers slip

Despite loss, figures an improvement over last October

October’s employment data for Connecticut offered both a trick and some treats for the state’s economy.

Connecticut lost 1,500 jobs last month compared to September, according to the state Department of Labor, but saw the economy add 4,800 workers compared to October 2018. The employment data for September was revised to include an additional 1,100 jobs to create a gain of 4,700 workers in that month.

The state’s unemployment rate for October remained unchanged at 3.6 percent.

Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research at the state Labor Department, said the “annual seasonally adjusted growth of 4,800 seems low but the twelvemonth average gain level of 8,000 jobs is probably closer to the mark.”

The largest employment gains among the job sectors came from construction and mining, which added 700 workers. Manufacturing added 500 jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector added 400 workers.

Pete Gioia, an economic adviser for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said the manufacturing employment gains are an encouraging sign.

“We have seen manufacturing companies receive major contracts that will require thousands of new workers in the future,” Gioia said. “A continued gain in this area is absolutely vital.”

The largest decline in employment came from the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which lost a 1,000 jobs.

Four of the state’s six labor market areas saw employment increases: Fairfield County’s labor market area — BridgeportStamfordNorwalk — added 700 jobs while the New Haven area added 400 workers last month.

Donald KlepperSmith, chief economist and director of research for New Havenbased DataCore Partners, said that, based on the state’s current employment growth rate, “the state’s economy is not likely to see full job recovery until mid2021.”

“The odds are that both Connecticut and the nation are apt to be encountering a fullblown national recession prior to full job recovery (in the state) ... raises serious questions about the state’s fiscal health over the nearterm,” he said.

Gioa called Connecticut’s employment gains “a fairly tepid number.”

“We really need to see that number increase dramatically to continue the job gain trend of July, August and September,” he said.