While the unemployment rate statewide noticeably dropped to 7.7 percent during the month of March, the situation still didn't look too promising for over the 1,700 Naugatuck residents who continue to go without jobs.
The latest Department of Labor statistics put the borough’s unemployment rate for March at 10.2 percent, the same level it was at in February. In January, unemployment was at 10.5 percent.
This means that, of the 16,976 eligible workers in the borough, 1,735 are without a job, the DOL figures showed.
In fact, compared to late 2011, the unemployment rate actually increased after hitting an of 9.2 percent in December. The rate had been sliding downward throughout 2011, after peaking at 12.9 percent in January.
See a full breakdown of Naugatuck unemployment figures below.
The borough’s situation shows a start contrast from the improving statewide unemployment rate. The 7.7 percent rate is the lowest across the Connecticut in months.
For more information on the statewide unemployment statistics, visit the Department of Labor's website.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy addressed the unemployment rate in a press release last week:
“While I’m certainly pleased that our unemployment rate continues to decline, we still have a long way to go in this growing recovery. The fact remains that if you don’t have a job, the unemployment rate is basically 100 percent."
He added:
“State government is working to help improve this situation. From the Small Business Express Program to the innovative incentives designed to spur new hiring, the policies we’ve enacted are beginning to pay dividends. But we have a lot more work to do.”
Here are the most recent 2012 Naugatuck statistics:
Month Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate January 17,005 15,225 1,780 10.5% February 17,032 15,290 1,742 10.2%Here are the 2011 Naugatuck statistics:
Month Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate January 17,130 14,915 2,215 12.9% February 17,102 14,972 2,130 12.5% March 17,107 15,118 1,989 11.6% April 17,040 15,237 1,803 10.6% May 17,036 15,248 1,788 10.5% June 17,154 15,344 1,810 10.6% July 17,328 15,462 1,866 10.8% August 17,191 15,340 1,851 10.8% September 17,043 15,361 1,682 9.9% October 17,065 15,403 1,662 9.7% November 17,023 15,439 1,584 9.3% December 16,984 15,419 1,565 9.2% Annual Average: 17,101 15,272 1,829 10.7%Follow Naugatuck Patch on Facebook and Twitter for daily news updates.
