e

LABOR SITUATION
Office of Research
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Patricia H. Mayfield
September 2007 Data
Commissioner

State Gains 600 Jobs – Nearly 20,000 New Jobs Over the Year
WETHERSFIELD, Oct. 18, 2007 – The state’s nonfarm employment in September was 1,702,800, an increase of
600 jobs from the revised August figure, the Connecticut Department of Labor announced today. On a seasonally
adjusted basis, this is a gain of 19,800 from the September 2006 total of 1,683,000 jobs. This employment data
is based on a survey of business establishments.

"We continue to set new record highs for jobs," Governor M. Jodi Rell said. "Nearly 20,000 new jobs have been
created during the past year, and we have now seen job growth in eight out of the past nine months. Demand for
space at our recent state-sponsored career fairs has been so high that several companies that wanted to
participate had to be turned away. We need to keep up this momentum. To do that, we must continue to support
and expand upon initiatives that make our state more business-friendly.”

Nonfarm Employment

After experiencing a slight setback in August, employment in construction rebounded this month, gaining 200 to
bring it back to 68,600. Seasonally adjusted, this supersector has gained 1,500 jobs over last year at this time,
with most of the increase seen in the specialty trades contractors industry. Unadjusted, employment in specialty
trades contractors has grown to 49,800, a noticeable increase over last September’s figure despite the recent
slump in new housing.

Employment in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector dropped sharply in September for the third consecutive
month – losing 800 jobs from the prior month’s figure. This month’s decline occurred in both durable and
nondurable goods industries, with both aerospace product and parts and chemical manufacturing each shedding
300 jobs, seasonally unadjusted. After reaching a five-year high of 32,000 in June, the aerospace product and
parts industry has since seen a slight decline of 500 in employment. Some of this may be attributed to a short
supply of skilled workers needed by this industry sector and higher than average retirement rates of its current
workforce.

Led by an increase in jobs within retail trade, the trade, transportation, and utilities supersector showed
positive change in September, up 400 to reach employment of 312,600. Unadjusted figures within this industry
showed a gain during the month of 300 jobs in general merchandise stores, while building material and garden
equipment stores and food and beverage stores were the big winners over the year, up 700 and 800,
respectively. Also within this supersector, employment in both wholesale trade and transportation & warehousing
was unchanged over the month.

Hiring remained relatively active for the second straight month in employment services, helping to bring up
employment in professional and business services by 600 to 209,500. Seasonally unadjusted, employment
services saw an additional 1,700 new workers enter this industry, bringing its current employment level to
34,700. Only legal services showed any real over-the-month loss in jobs (-200), while all other industries in this
supersector remained relatively unchanged. Over the year, this industry has produced 500 of the 1,100 new jobs
within administrative and support services. However, the biggest over-the-year increase in unadjusted
employment within this supersector can be found in the computer systems design industry, up 1,100, or 5.4
percent, to settle at 21,600.

-- more –
The employment increase of 500 in educational services was cancelled out by job losses in health care and
social assistance, keeping the jobs number for educational and health services at 288,000. Much of the gain
seen in educational services can be attributed to hiring in the colleges and universities, up 1,300 from last year at
this time to reach employment of 31,000, seasonally unadjusted.
After losing 600 in its workforce over the last two months, leisure and hospitality rebounded by adding back 300
workers, bringing current employment to 135,500. The arts, entertainment and recreation industry within this
supersector shed some 300 jobs, but that was more than offset by the addition of 600 workers in accommodation
and food services. Overall, this industry is up 2,800 from last year at this time.
Employment in government gave back some of its sizeable two month gain, losing 800 workers in September.
This supersector’s job count still remains well above last year’s figure, and since January, has shown an increase
of 2,100, with both state government and local government sharing this increase, while jobs in federal
government dipped 200 during that time period.
Of the remaining supersectors, information and financial services remained relatively unchanged while other
services posted a healthy over-the-month gain of 700.
Labor Market Areas (not seasonally adjusted): The two largest of the nine Labor Market Areas (LMAs),
Bridgeport-Stamford and Hartford, added 6,200 and 3,300 jobs, respectively, over the year. Increases were also
seen in the Torrington LMA, with 1,000 additional jobs; the Waterbury LMA with 800 new jobs; the Willimantic-
Danielson LMA with 700 additional jobs; the Norwich-New London LMA with 600 new jobs; and the Danbury
LMA with an additional 500 jobs. The Enfield and New Haven LMAs lost jobs over the year.
Hours and Earnings: The manufacturing production workweek in September 2007, not seasonally adjusted,
averaged 42.6 hours, an increase of two-tenths of an hour from the September 2006 figure of 42.4 hours.
Average hourly earnings at $20.91, also not seasonally adjusted, were up $0.95 from September 2006 when
they were $19.96. The resulting average weekly wage for manufacturing workers in September 2007, at $890.77,
was up $44.47, representing an increase of 5.3 percent from a year ago.

Labor Force Data

Connecticut’s seasonally adjusted labor force was up 19,800 persons from last month, bringing September’s total
to 1,891,100. This is an increase of 37,200 from the September 2006 figure.
Unemployment: Based on the household survey, the estimate of people unemployed, seasonally adjusted,
decreased in September by 1,300 over the month to 85,400, while the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth
of a percentage point to 4.5 percent, two-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate. The state’s
unemployment rate in the previous month, August 2007, was 4.6 percent, while one year ago, September 2006,
the unemployment rate stood at 4.4 percent.
The number of unemployed people increased by 3,100 from last year. Average weekly initial unemployment
claims in September 2007 for first-time filers increased over the month by 26 to 3,944. The average for
September was down 88 claims over the year when the number was 4,032.
Unemployment rates, not seasonally adjusted, were up over the year in seven of the state’s nine labor market
areas. In September, the Danbury LMA had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent. This was followed by
the Torrington LMA, at 3.8 percent; and the Bridgeport-Stamford area, at 3.9 percent. The Waterbury area had
the highest unemployment rate at 5.5 percent. Over the year, the Bridgeport-Stamford and Hartford LMAs each
had 900 more unemployed people, while the New Haven LMA had 500 additional unemployed, and the
Waterbury LMA had 400 more unemployed.
Note: The nonfarm employment estimate is derived from a survey of businesses and is a measure of jobs in
the state; the unemployment rate is based largely on a household survey and is a measure of the work status
of people who live in Connecticut.

Contact: Nancy Steffens (860) 263-6535 10-18-07

###
Labor market information is available on the Internet at www.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi
200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114. www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
 NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work
CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted

Sept. Aug. July June Sept. Over Month Over Year

2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 Change Rate Change Rate

CONNECTICUT 1,702,800 1,702,200 1,700,400 1,699,800 1,683,000 600 0.0% * 19,800 1.2%
Goods Producing Industries
Construction 68,600 68,400 68,600 68,500 67,100 200 0.3% 1,500 2.2%
Manufacturing 191,800 192,600 193,000 193,600 193,600 -800 -0.4% -1,800 -0.9%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities 312,600 312,200 312,600 312,900 310,100 400 0.1% 2,500 0.8%
Wholesale 68,700 68,700 69,000 69,100 67,500 0 0.0% 1,200 1.8%
Retail 191,100 190,700 191,000 191,000 190,500 400 0.2% 600 0.3%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities 52,800 52,800 52,600 52,800 52,100 0 0.0% 700 1.3%
Information 37,400 37,500 37,600 37,600 37,500 -100 -0.3% -100 -0.3%
Financial Activities 144,900 144,800 145,300 145,400 144,600 100 0.1% 300 0.2%
Finance & Insurance 124,100 124,300 124,800 124,700 123,600 -200 -0.2% 500 0.4%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing 20,800 20,500 20,500 20,700 21,000 300 1.5% -200 -1.0%
Professional & Business Services 209,500 208,900 208,200 210,500 204,900 600 0.3% 4,600 2.2%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services 95,300 95,300 95,300 94,800 92,200 0 0.0% 3,100 3.4%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv 89,700 88,800 88,600 91,100 88,100 900 1.0% 1,600 1.8%
Educational & Health Services 288,000 288,000 287,000 284,800 281,800 0 0.0% 6,200 2.2%
Educational Services 56,400 55,900 55,900 55,100 54,000 500 0.9% 2,400 4.4%
Health Care & Social Assistance 231,600 232,100 231,100 229,700 227,800 -500 -0.2% 3,800 1.7%
Leisure and Hospitality 135,500 135,200 135,300 135,800 132,700 300 0.2% 2,800 2.1%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 24,200 24,500 24,400 24,500 23,500 -300 -1.2% 700 3.0%
Accommodation & Food Services 111,300 110,700 110,900 111,300 109,200 600 0.5% 2,100 1.9%
Other Services 65,200 64,500 64,100 64,100 63,700 700 1.1% 1,500 2.4%
Government** 248,500 249,300 247,900 245,800 246,200 -800 -0.3% 2,300 0.9%

UNITED STATES 138,265,000 138,155,000 138,066,000 137,973,000 136,636,000 110,000 0.1% 1,629,000 1.2%

LABOR MARKET AREAS - Not Seasonally Adjusted

Labor Market Area employment estimates are made independently of Statewide estimates.

Sept. Aug. July June Sept. Over Month Over Year

2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 Change Rate Change Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford 422,600 421,500 425,400 429,200 416,400 1,100 0.3% 6,200 1.5%
Danbury 69,700 69,300 69,500 70,900 69,200 400 0.6% 500 0.7%
Enfield 47,600 46,800 47,400 48,700 48,700 800 1.7% -1,100 -2.3%
Hartford 556,200 548,500 550,000 557,100 552,900 7,700 1.4% 3,300 0.6%
New Haven 277,100 271,300 271,400 278,600 277,300 5,800 2.1% -200 -0.1%
Norwich-New London 137,400 138,000 137,600 137,700 136,800 -600 -0.4% 600 0.4%
Torrington 38,800 38,100 37,900 38,600 37,800 700 1.8% 1,000 2.6%
Waterbury 70,000 68,100 68,800 70,800 69,200 1,900 2.8% 800 1.2%
Willimantic-Danielson 38,100 37,200 37,700 38,400 37,400 900 2.4% 700 1.9%
* Less than 0.05% ** Includes Native American tribal government employment

Data in this publication are benchmarked to March 2006. Current month's nonfarm employment data are preliminary, previous months'
data are revised. Nonfarm employment, hours and earnings, and labor force data included in this publication are developed in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Connecticut Labor Situation September 2007

 UNEMPLOYMENT
Persons Unemployed - by Place of Residence

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted

September 2007 September 2006 Change August 2007
Number Rate Number Rate Number Points Number Rate

CONNECTICUT
Unemployed 85,400 4.5 82,300 4.4 3,100 0.1 86,700 4.6
Labor Force 1,891,100 1,853,900 37,200 1,871,300

UNITED STATES
Unemployed 7,207,000 4.7 6,912,000 4.6 295,000 0.1 7,097,000 4.6
Labor Force 153,464,000 151,818,000 1,646,000 152,891,000

U.S. AND CONNECTICUT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES - Seasonally Adjusted

2005 - 2007
6.0
Percent Unemployed

5.0
US

CT
4.0

3.0
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D

2005 2006 2007

LABOR MARKET AREAS - Not Seasonally Adjusted

September 2007 September 2006 Change August 2007

Number Rate Number Rate Number Points Number Rate

Bridgeport-Stamford 18,800 3.9 17,900 3.8 900 0.1 20,300 4.2

Danbury 3,100 3.4 2,900 3.2 200 0.2 3,400 3.7
Enfield 2,300 4.6 2,100 4.2 200 0.4 2,100 4.2
Hartford 26,000 4.4 25,100 4.3 900 0.1 28,100 4.8
New Haven 14,400 4.6 13,900 4.5 500 0.1 15,400 4.9
Norwich-New London 6,100 4.0 6,000 4.0 100 0.0 6,500 4.2
Torrington 2,100 3.8 2,000 3.6 100 0.2 2,300 4.1
Waterbury 5,700 5.5 5,300 5.3 400 0.2 6,000 5.9
Willimantic-Danielson 3,000 5.1 2,900 5.1 100 0.0 3,000 5.1

CONNECTICUT 80,900 4.3 77,600 4.2 3,300 0.1 86,600 4.6

UNITED STATES 6,952,000 4.5 6,625,000 4.4 327,000 0.1 7,088,000 4.6

Connecticut Labor Situation September 2007

 UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
Not Seasonally Adjusted

LABOR MARKET AREAS

North
Canaan
Colebrook Hartland
Suffield Enfield Somers Union
Salisbury Stafford
Norfolk Thompson
Granby Enfield Woodstock
Canaan
East 4.6
Barkhamsted Granby Windsor
Winchester Locks
East Ellington Putnam
Windsor Pomfret
Willington Ashford Eastford
Simsbury Tolland
Windsor
Sharon
Goshen New
Canton Willimantic-Danielson
Cornwall Bloomfield South
Torrington Hartford
Windsor
Vernon 5.1
Torrington Killingly
Avon Chaplin
3.8 Coventry Mansfield Hampton Brooklyn
West East Manchester Bolton
Harwinton Burlington Hartford HartfordHartford
Warren Litchfield
Kent Farmington Hartford Andover
4.4

Ne
Windham
ton Wethersfield Scotland Canterbury Plainfield Sterling
as

win
Morris Columbia
om Bristol New Glastonbury
Th

gto
Plainville Britain
Plymouth Rocky

n
Hebron
Washington Hill
Bethlehem Marlborough Lebanon Sprague
She

New Watertown Berlin Cromwell Franklin

Wolcott Southington Portland Lisbon
rma

Milford
Waterbury East
Griswold Voluntown
n

Danbury Roxbury
Woodbury 5.5 Hampton Colchester
Norwich
Waterbury Middletown Bozrah
Meriden
3.4 Bridge- Middlebury
Middlefield Preston
water Cheshire
Prospect
New Naugatuck East Salem Norwich-New London
Fairfield Southbury
Brookfield
Wallingford Durham Haddam Haddam 4.0 North
Beacon Stonington
Montville Ledyard
Oxford Falls Bethany

Danbury
New Haven Chester
Newtown Hamden Lyme
Seymour
North 4.6 Killing-
Deep
Waterford
Bethel Haven worth East Stonington
Wood- River Lyme New Groton
Monroe Ansoniabridge North Essex London
Branford
Derby Old
Shelton New Guilford West- Lyme
Ridgefield Redding Haven East Clinton Old
brook Saybrook
Bridgeport-Stamford HavenBranford Madison
Orange West
3.9 Haven

Wilton
Weston
Easton Trumbull

Stratford
Milford September 2007
Bridgeport
New
Canaan
Westport
Fairfield
Connecticut: 4.3%
Stamford Norwalk
U.S.: 4.5%
Greenwich
Darien
Not

HOURS AND EARNINGS

Manufacturing Production and Related Workers

CONNECTICUT AND LABOR MARKET AREAS - Not Seasonally Adjusted

Average Weekly Earnings Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Sept. Sept. Change Aug. Sept. Sept. Change Aug. Sept. Sept. Change Aug.
2007 2006 over Yr. 2007 2007 2006 over Yr. 2007 2007 2006 over Yr. 2007

CONNECTICUT $890.77 $846.30 $44.47 $873.15 42.6 42.4 0.2 42.1 $20.91 $19.96 $0.95 $20.74

Bridgeport-Stamford 904.54 929.63 -25.09 839.34 43.3 43.4 -0.1 41.8 20.89 21.42 -0.53 20.08
New Haven 844.57 742.00 102.57 794.63 38.6 42.4 -3.8 37.5 21.88 17.50 4.38 21.19
Norwich-New London 867.15 829.79 37.36 848.22 42.3 42.1 0.2 41.6 20.50 19.71 0.79 20.39

Due to constraints of the sample upon which estimates are made, manufacturing hours and earnings estimates for the Hartford and
Waterbury labor market areas have been suspended.

Connecticut Labor Situation September 2007

 TRENDS
Seasonally Adjusted

Nonfarm Total Unemployment

Employment (000s) Rate
2006
Jan 1,674.0 4.5 Nonfarm Employment
Feb 1,673.3 4.4 1,710
Mar 1,673.3 4.3
1,700
Apr 1,676.3 4.0

Thousands
May 1,677.6 4.1 1,690
Jun 1,679.6 4.2
July 1,681.8 4.4 1,680

Aug 1,685.0 4.5

1,670
Sep 1,683.0 4.4
Oct 1,682.0 4.3 1,660
Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov
Nov 1,683.6 4.2
Dec 1,686.0 4.1 2006 2007

2007
Jan 1,690.1 4.4 Total Unemployment Rate
Feb 1,691.2 4.2 6.0

Mar 1,693.4 4.1 5.5

Apr 1,697.0 4.2
5.0
May 1,696.0 4.5
Percent
Jun 1,699.8 4.3 4.5
July 1,700.4 4.5
4.0
Aug 1,702.2 4.6
Sep 1,702.8 4.5 3.5

Oct 3.0
Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov

Dec 2006 2007

Avg Weekly Avg Manufacturing

Initial Claims Weekly Hours*
2006
Jan 3,611 42.5 Average Weekly Initial Claims
5,000
Feb 4,145 42.3
Mar 4,059 42.0
4,500
Apr 4,188 41.6
May 4,207 42.0
4,000
Jun 4,164 42.2
July 4,125 42.4
Aug 3,986 41.9 3,500

Sep 4,032 42.4

Oct 3,941 42.1 3,000
Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov
Nov 4,112 42.0
2006 2007
Dec 4,185 42.7

2007
Jan 3,869 42.1 Average Manufacturing Weekly Hours
Feb 4,343 42.4 44.0

Mar 4,008 42.4

Apr 4,193 42.4 43.0

May 3,935 42.2

Jun 4,132 42.2 42.0

July 4,094 42.3

41.0
Aug 3,918 42.1
Sep 3,944 42.6
40.0
Oct Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov
Nov
2006 2007
Dec

* Not Seasonally Adjusted

** Labor-management dispute

Connecticut Labor Situation September 2007