Dept. of Labor reports private sector employment at all-time high

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) – Employers added about 4,700 jobs in Connecticut last month, according to a report from the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL).

CTDOL Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo released the May report Monday. In a statement, he said it was a solid month with the indicators moving in the right direction.

The report showed the unemployment rate dropped to 4.3% and private sector employment reached an all-time high with 1,476,100 payroll jobs in the state- which is up by 10,000 from the 2018 peak.

“Connecticut employers are adding jobs and employers and consumers are benefiting from an improving national condition including a lower inflation rate, more stability in consumer prices, and, while it’s been predicted month over month, no signs of recession,” Bartolomeo said.

According to the report, payroll employment is at 104.3% of pre-pandemic employment, which follows a national jobs growth trend.

CTDOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said seasonally-adjusted employment played a large role in overall job growth in May.

“With a 64% survey response rate, May was a strong employer reporting month, something we anticipate will lead to less volatility in the revised numbers out next month,” Flaherty said.

Other highlights of May’s report include, according to the Department of Labor:

• May’s report marks the fifth month of job growth in 2024 with employers adding an average of 3,043 jobs per month.
• The government sector, which includes state and local government as well as Tribal Nations, is 90% recovered from jobs lost during March-April 2020.
• To date, total employment is up 15,200 in 2024. Employment rose 18,400 in 2023.
• Connecticut had 90,000 jobs available in April, latest data available.
• Seven of 10 supersectors added jobs or were unchanged; three saw declines.