Trade jobs in Connecticut grow

Posted on February 2, 2018

A number of trade jobs in Connecticut are growing, according to a recent update on labor statistics.

Job estimates from the business payroll survey administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the state gained 6,000 net jobs (0.4%) in December 2017, to a level of 1,685,200, seasonally adjusted. Over the year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 7,700 jobs (0.05%). November’s originally-released job loss of 3,500 was revised by the BLS to a loss of 1,800 for the month.

Five of the ten major industry supersectors gained employment in December, while four declined. Professional & business services led growing industries with 2,700 net new jobs (1.2%, 219,000 total jobs).

Trade, transportation & utilities was next with an increase of 2,600 jobs (0.9%, 300,300 total). There was surprising strength in the retail component. The manufacturing supersector ended the year on a strong note, gaining 2,000 jobs in December (1.3%, 160,300).

Leisure & hospitality reversed it’s trend of recent losses, showing a 1,600 job gain in December (1.1%, 153,300 total) and education & health services saw a smaller gain of 400 jobs (0.1%, 334,900) based on gains in healthcare & social assistance. On the downside, other services dropped an estimated 1,200 jobs in December (-1.8%, 66,400 total) and the construction and mining industry shed 1,000 jobs (-1.8%, 56,100).

Financial activities lost 800 positions (-0.6%, 132,400 total) and the information supersector dropped 300 jobs (-1.0%, 31,100 total).

Connecticut has now recovered 76.4% (91,000 jobs) of the 119,100 seasonally adjusted jobs lost in the Great Recession (3/08-2/10).

The job recovery is into its 94th month and the state needs an additional 28,100 jobs to reach an overall nonfarm employment expansion. The state’s private sector has now recovered 96.6% (107,900) of the 111,700 private sector jobs lost in that same employment downturn.