Connecticut Adds Jobs in May, Unemployment Ticks Up

Connecticut had a decent month for job growth in May, unlike the national numbers, but the jobless rate ticked up slightly, according to the first estimate from the state Department of Labor.

The May data shows 1,400 jobs were added to the state's economy.

In the last year, the private sector has added 9,900 jobs, but job cuts in state and local government has meant that the overall job tally is only up 6,200.

Even the larger number is a very weak rate. A job growth rate of 1 percent a year ? 16,000 positions ? is considered to be the threshold for a solid gain.

The number of government jobs dropped by 1.5 percent in the last year. The only part of the private sector that added a greater number of jobs than those cut from government was health care, which added 6,600 jobs over the last year.

Manufacturing, construction, finance and insurance and real estate businesses all have fewer workers than a year ago.

The state's unemployment rate rose from 7.7 percent to 7.8 percent in May, as graduates and long-time unemployed who had given up looking began applying for jobs.

"Given the fact that more people are trying to enter the work force because they're more optimistic they can actually find a job, the change in the unemployment rate is not a surprise; we saw an example of that increase in job seekers just yesterday in Norwich," said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a written statement. "As I've said all along, changing an economy that failed to grow jobs in a meaningful way for a generation won't happen overnight. But I am committed to seeing this through."

Jeff Wilson, 47, has been applying to jobs steadily for two years, but with the end of his unemployment checks last month, his search has renewed urgency.

Wilson, who is studying engineering technology at Gateway Community College, said his partner's accounting job just laid her off after three months in May, as well.

Wilson was a self-employed truck driver before the recession, but as the cost of diesel fuel skyrocketed, he couldn't survive.

His last job interview was to install solar panels at $15 an hour.

"It's insulting, honestly," he said. Before becoming a trucker, he worked in construction in New Hampshire ? bringing home $1,200 to $1,500 a week.

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