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Connecticut's Unemployment Rate Falls To 6.6%

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- The unemployment rate in Connecticut dropped to 6.6 percent for July, the lowest jobless rate since December 2008, according to statistics released Friday by the Department of Labor. 

The private sector grew 3,100 jobs during July, which was the sixth consecutive month of job growth, according to the Labor Department. The private sector has added 17,300 jobs over the year.

“This latest report is yet another sign that we are making steady progress in improving Connecticut’s economy.  With the addition of 3,100 private sector jobs this month, we have created nearly 60,000 private sector jobs since January of 2011. All of this comes as the number of unemployed residents shrinks and our labor force grows," said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Connecticut has recovered 64 percent of the jobs lost in the Great Recession, the Labor Department said. 

"Since taking office, we have made long-overdue investments that will make sure Connecticut’s economy is positioned for long-term growth and we’re starting to see results," Malloy said. "It’s absolutely critical that we keep working and making these changes so that our residents can find good paying jobs with good benefits.”

The unemployment rate is down from 6.7 percent in June 2014 and from 7.9 percent in July 2013.  

“Connecticut experienced its first back-to-back June-July nonfarm employment gain since the recovery began in early 2010,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research at the Department of Labor. “This growth, along with continued declines in the number of unemployed, may be an indication that the moderate employment growth we have seen this year will be sustainable for some time.”

The unemployment rate has not been this low in the state since December 2008 when it was at 6.7 percent. It was at 6.4 percent in November 2008 and rising fast at the time. The number of unemployed residents has declined by 23,545 since July 2013.

In the state's Labor Market Areas for July, the largest gaining by far was Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk with 2,200 new jobs. Also exhibiting small job gains was the Danbury area with 200 new jobs.

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