• Determined to Drive Every Last Vestige of Jobs Out of the State, Connecticut Legislature Enacts Highest Minimum Wage in the U.S.

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A. ”On a visit to Connecticut earlier this month, President Barack Obama urged Congress to raise the federal minimum to the same $10.10 level....” B.”Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy on Thursday signed into law a measure that will phase in the highest minimum wage of any U.S. state, in line with a push by Democrats nationwide to raise the entry-level wage. ”The bill, which was approved by state legislators a day earlier, will raise the state's minimum hourly rate to $10.10, a figure that matches what U.S. President Barack Obama has asked Congress to consider imposing nationally….” See the complete reports at these links: A. Reuters B. Reuters Note: Reuters is not responsible for the title on this posting

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• U.S. Employment and Unemployment vs. Connecticut - October 2013

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• 12-Month % Growth in Employment: U.S. vs. CT

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• Unemployment Rate: U.S. vs. CT

• Connecticut Added Jobs, but Unemployment Rate Still Rose – July 2013

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Nonfarm employment in Connecticut grew sharply in July gaining 11,500 jobs (0.7%), even as the unemployment rate ticked up a notch to 8.1%, See the complete report at this link: CTDOL

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• Connecticut’s Annual Sales Tax-Free Week Runs August 18-24

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”Connecticut residents about the state's upcoming sales tax-free week - an annual holiday that allows shoppers to purchase most individual items of clothing and footwear priced under $300 without having to pay the usual sales and use tax. This year's tax-free week runs from Sunday, August 18 through Saturday August 24.” See the complete report at this link: Governor.CT.gov

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• Connecticut to Increase Minimum Wage in 2014 and 2015 – Tip Credits Adjusted

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”Governor Dannel P. Malloy has signed legislation to increase Connecticut’s hourly minimum wage over two years by $.75 to $9.00 by January 1, 2015. ”Under the new law (Public Act No. 13-117), effective January 1, 2014, the state minimum wage will rise from $8.25 per hour to $8.70 per hour." See the complete report at this link: JacksonLewis.com

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• Connecticut Employment Situation – June 2013

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In June, nonfarm employment was little changed. Connecticut’s small monthly 500 nonfarm job gain (0.03%) marks the fourth monthly job increase in a row and the fifth monthly gain in the first six months of 2013. The state’s unemployment rate edged higher to 8.1% in June. The unemployment rate had held steady at 8.0% for the four prior consecutive months. Connecticut’s unemployment rate is down four-tenths of a percentage point from June 2012 (8.5%). See the complete report at this link: CTDOL

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• “Connecticut's Gas Tax Jumps to Nearly 50 Cents”

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”With the new gas taxes this week Connecticut will raise an extra $60 million at the pumps this year. But little of that money will go toward improving the state's highway infrastructure…. Instead, the state will continue to siphon the revenues for other spending. “’Connecticut has been systematically underinvesting in its transportation infrastructure, and this has been going on for years and years and years,’ University of Connecticut economist Fred V. Carstensen told the Mirror.” See the complete commentary at this link: Monroe.Patch.com

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• Op-Ed Column from New London’s The Day

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”…Governor Malloy quickly visited a Windsor tobacco farm damaged by the tornado and made such farms eligible to share in the $5 million in emergency financial grants his administration had already established for farms hurt financially by the spring's heavy rain. ”But a few weeks earlier…the governor did all he could to put the state's firearms industry out of business, even as the Centers for Disease Control still reports that tobacco use in the United States causes more deaths each year than alcohol and illegal drugs, traffic accidents, suicides, and murders combined. "Go figure." See the complete column at this link: TheDay.com

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• Connecticut Labor Situation – May 2013

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Following a large gain of 6,400 nonfarm jobs in April, Connecticut added another 1,000 nonfarm positions in May, for the best five month start to a year of employment gains since the job recovery began at the start of 2010. Connecticut has now gained jobs in four of the first five months of 2013, losing employment only during the blizzard-impacted month of February. The state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.0% in May, but experienced a key turnaround in civilian labor force growth which had been on a continuous decline since June of 2010. The unemployment rate has held steady at 8.0% for four consecutive months. Connecticut’s unemployment rate is down four-tenths of a percentage point from May 2012 (8.4%). “With the exception of a storm impacted February, Connecticut has been experiencing consistent job growth so far this year,” said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. “The upward turn in labor force participation, after 35 straight months of decline, may indicate increased confidence in labor market conditions. However, there are still headwinds ahead. Federal budget sequester cuts could hinder employment growth possibilities throughout the rest of 2013.” See the complete report at this link: CTDOL

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