Recovery from the recession that saw more than 100,000 jobs disappear from Connecticut continues to be slow – both locally and throughout the state.
In the May unemployment figures tracked by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Ridgefield's unemployed rose by 79 people to 5.2 percent. In April the rate was 4.7 percent.
In Connecticut, the unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percent to 7.8 percent. Approximately 1,400 jobs were added in May. According to state figures, Connecticut recovered 34,900, or 29.7 percent, of the 117,500 total nonfarm jobs lost in the recession lasting March 2008 - February 2010.
“Given the fact that more people are trying to enter the work force because they’re more optimistic they can actually find a job, the change in the unemployment rate is not a surprise,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in a statement. “As I’ve said all along, changing an economy that failed to grow jobs in a meaningful way for a generation won’t happen overnight. But I am committed to seeing this through.”
Ridgefield Jobs Data
Jan. Feb. March April MayLabor Force
11,818 11,835 11,921 11,866 12,122 Employed People 11,160 11,190 11,281 11,313 11,490 Unemployed People 658 645 640 553 632 Unemployment Rate (in percent) 5.6 5.4 5.4 4.7 5.2