Jobless Claims Approach 7 Million

May 26, 2009
Matt Isleib

 

The number of Americans continuing to claim unemployment rose to nearly 6.7 million. The jobless numbers released last week was a 16^th straight record. The national unemployment rate is presently 8.9 percent.

 

In April Connecticut shed another 11,800. That marked the eighth straight month of job losses. The states unemployment rate has crept to 7.9 percent in April up from 7.5 percent in March.

 

The state is heavily entrenched in the financial and construction industries. Both have led as the leading sectors for unemployment. According to John Tirinzonie a state Labor Department economist was quoted as saying in The Connecticut Post the hardest hit section has been construction. Presently 22 percent of the workforce is unemployed. He remained hopeful for a recovery but did note that in the 1990’s construction losses did not subside until the industry had a 40 percent unemployment rate.

 

The financial sector for the state of CT is skewed where job loss is concerned. There are a vast amount of residents that commute to New York and any job losses that are reported do not show up on Connecticut’s radar or jobless figures