After hitting double-digit percentage points in early 2012, the unemployment rate in Naugatuck dropped to 9.2 percent during the month of April.
According to the latest Department of Labor statistics, 1,567 borough residents are still jobless out of 17,004 eligible workers.
This is a slight decrease compared to numbers in both February and March, . (See the charts below for a further breakdown).
But, the unemployment rate is still overall well above the state average — as it has been for the past year. The latest DOL numbers put the statewide unemployment rate at 7.7 percent, which is the same figure as in March.
Also, unemployment in Naugatuck is considerably lower compared to this same time last year:
Town Unemployment in April 2011 Unemployment in April 2012 Naugatuck 10.6 percent 9.2 percentIn a press release last week, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said the decreasing statewide numbers show there has been job growth — namely 16,000 new private sector jobs that were added since January 2011.
“That said, I fully recognize that we have more work to do,” the governor said. “I remain optimistic that moving forward we’ll continue to create jobs.”
Here are the early 2012 unemployment figures for Naugatuck:
Month Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate January 17,005 15,225 1,780 10.5% February 17,032 15,290 1,742 10.2% March16,976
15,241
1,735 10.2% April17,004
15,437
1,567 9.2%And here are the 2011 unemployment numbers for Naugatuck:
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%