State unemployment rate falls to 8.2 percent

Connecticut's jobless rate fell again in December, reaching a level that hasn't been seen in Connecticut since May 2009.

The state Department of Labor on Monday said the jobless rate fell for the fifth consecutive month in December to 8.2 percent, down from 8.4 percent in November and down from 9 percent a year earlier.

Locally, the New London and Norwich area saw the jobless rate fall a tenth of a percent from November, to 8 percent in December. The Willimantic and Danielson area saw its rate decline three-tenths of a percent to 8.7 percent.

Andy Condon, who directs the agency's Office of Research, welcomed the declines in Connecticut's unemployment rate. "After a disappointing performance in the third quarter of 2011, it appears that Connecticut's labor market has returned to a modest pace toward recovery," said Condon.

"Our declining unemployment rate is particularly good news," he added. "However, forecasts for job growth in 2012 remain cautious and uncertain with most analysts predicting levels much like what we saw this past year."

The state labor agency said Connecticut added a modest 600 jobs during December, and over the past year has added 9,000 jobs. "It continues a trend," said Condon. "It seems like we're returning to a positive, although moderate, path to (continued) job growth."

Despite the state's overall gains, job growth in the New London and Norwich markets remains elusive. The region lost 3,600 jobs from December 2010 to December 2011, while the Willimantic and Danielson areas showed a modest gain of 300 jobs.

Of the state's six major labor market areas - which includes the New London-Norwich area - only four showed job increases over that one-year timeframe. The two showing the most job losses included the New Haven area, which lost 4,000 jobs, and the New London and Norwich area with its decrease of 3,600 jobs.

Connecticut has recovered 34,300 jobs since the end of this state's Great Recession, whose grip on the economy officially ran from March 2008 to December 2010. Those jobs represent almost 29 percent of the 119,200 jobs lost during the steep downturn.

a.cronin@theday.com