WETHERSFIELD, Conn. — The unemployment rate continues to drop in Connecticut, new statistics from the state's Department of Labor (DOL) show for the month of May.
The state DOL's latest report shows the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.2%. Employers added an estimated 1,600 jobs in the state in May, up from the 1,400 added in April, officials said.
The state's private sector is 86.3% recovered from April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic took a hit on employment. The state's public sector is 39.8% recovered.
Seven of the 10 industry supersectors in Connecticut experienced employment increases, including the professional and business services supersector with over 1,400 employees gained.
Unemployment weekly filings did increase slightly due to seasonal layoffs, which officials expected. The weekly filings are now just above 17,000 in Connecticut.
Nationwide, the U.S. added 390,000 jobs in May, as the overall unemployment rate stayed around 3.6%.
Also, applications for unemployment benefits went down to 229,000 in the past week, but many first-time filings were from layoffs. the national DOL announced Thursday.
There are currently 100,000 jobs available across Connecticut.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leah Myers is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at lmyers@fox61.com
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