Connecticut lost 1,500 jobs in October. But its unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.6%, the same as the national average. That’s according to figures released by the state Department of Labor.
Andy Condon, with the state Labor Department, says Connecticut’s job loss in October might be attributable to a decline in retail jobs as consumers move to more online purchases.
"Retail trade has been declining for some time as people’s patterns for purchasing things are changing somewhat away from bricks and mortar stores and somewhat towards online. But this was a particularly large decline,” Condon said. “But some of the jobs lost in retail might be gained in what we call our warehousing and distribution sector. Think of the Amazons of the world. So we are not gaining a job for every one we lose in retail, but the jobs that are gained tend to pay better.”
On the other hand, the state gained more jobs in September than originally reported. Those numbers have been revised from 3,600 jobs to 4,700 jobs.
On Long Island there was a gain of 8,500 jobs in October, nearly double the average monthly job gains for the year. Most of the new jobs are in education and healthcare services.
