• Employment in Connecticut’s Industries: April 2012

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The growing industries in our state were led by professional and business services (900, 0.5%). This is the second fastest growing industry since April 2011 (+1,700, 0.9%). Trade, transportation, and utilities (500, 0.2%) also added jobs, with retail trade (1,400, 0.8%) responsible for all of the gains, as both wholesale trade (-700, -1.1%) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-200, -0.4%) had job losses. This industry is higher by 1,400 (0.5%) over the year. Financial activities increased 300 positions (0.2%) for the second monthly gain in a row. Together, finance and insurance (200, 0.2%) and real estate (100, 0.5%) contributed to the monthly gains, but they are still down substantially over the year (-3,300, -2.4%). The information industry was higher by 100 (0.3%), a 500 gain (1.6%) since April 2011. The six declining industries in April were led by a significant drop in construction and closely related mining (-2,300, -0.4%). This brings the building trades to an even 50,000 employment level in April, down 1,300 (-2.7%) over the year. This is the second large drop in the building trades after large job gains in January and February. Government continues its weakness dropping -1,300 jobs (-0.6%) over the month. Local government led public sector job declines in April (-1,300, -0.9%) and federal government was lower as well (-100, -0.6%), while state government added jobs (100, 0.2%). Leisure and hospitality shed 1,200 jobs (-0.9%) over the month. The two subcomponents exhibited declines, with accommodations and food services (-1,100, -1.0%) providing most of the loss. Arts, entertainment, and recreation groupings were slightly lower by -100 (-0.4%). Education and health services was lower by -600 (-0.2%). This is the first monthly drop in this industry since February 2011. Nevertheless, education and health services continued to be the fastest growing industry over the year (7,700, 2.5%). Manufacturing lost 400 positions (-0.2%) over the month and is lower since April 2011 (-1,400, -0.8%). The entire production sector decline came from the durable goods segment (-400, -0.3%) in April, and durables are down over the year (-1,600, -1.2%). Non-durable goods components were unchanged this month but have exhibited a slight gain over the year (200, 0.5%). Source: CTDOL

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