• Connecticut’s Unemployment – November 2012

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Connecticut’s unemployment rate was estimated at 8.8% for November 2012. This is down two-tenths of a percentage point from October 2012 (9.0%), but five-tenths of a percentage point higher than November 2011 (8.3%). Connecticut’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force was calculated at 1,883,200 for November 2012, down 34,900 over the year (-1.8%), and down by 11,100 (-0.6%) just from last month. This is the biggest monthly decline in civilian labor force ever in the state going back to 1976 when electronic records began, and the fifth consecutive large decline going back to July. The survey suggests that the majority of those leaving the labor force were previously working rather than unemployed. Connecticut’s labor force peaked more than a year ago in February 2011 at an all-time high of 1,921,800, seasonally adjusted. Unemployed: The estimate of people unemployed, seasonally adjusted, was lower by 4,600 (-2.7%) from October 2012 to 166,600 in November, and the unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.8%. The November 2012 United States unemployment rate was 7.7%, also down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month. November average weekly initial unemployment claims for first-time Connecticut filers increased over the month by 2,623 (53.5%) to 7,530, but were still lower by 1,164 claims (-13.4%) from last November 2011 (8,694), when they were heavily impacted by Storm Alfred. Hurricane Sandy’s landfall (Oct. 29, which was at the same time as Storm Alfred hit last year) led to elevated claims in early November. Source: CTDOL

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