State Unemployment Drops Below 9 Percent

Connecticut’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 in September, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Labor.

“An increase in jobs and a drop in the number of unemployed were positives for this month,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “Unlike the last two months, changes in the employment and unemployment estimates have returned to more typical levels.”

The 2,000 new non-agricultural jobs added to Connecticut in September represent a .01 percent increase from August. September is the fourth month of job growth in Connecticut, tempered with four months of declining jobs and one month of no change.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy remains skeptical of the unemployment rate.

“With the release of the numbers today, the only thing that’s any clearer is how conflicting the data continues to be,” he said in a written statement. “Yes, the divide between the employer’s survey and the household survey has narrowed.  But they still tell two stories that can’t both be true.”