Business & Tech

Orange Unemployment Spikes in May, Erases Gains

After experiencing the lowest unemployment rate in years, jobless numbers in Orange are the highest since the year began.

Recovery from the recession that saw more than 100,000 jobs disappear from Connecticut continues to be slow – both locally and throughout the state.

In the May unemployment figures tracked by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Orange's unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 6.4 percent. There are 473 unemployed people in town.

In Connecticut, the unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percent to 7.8 percent. Approximately 1,400 jobs were added in May. According to state figures, Connecticut recovered 34,900, or 29.7 percent, of the 117,500 total nonfarm jobs lost in the recession lasting March 2008 - February 2010.

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“Given the fact that more people are trying to enter the work force because they’re more optimistic they can actually find a job, the change in the unemployment rate is not a surprise,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in a statement.  “As I’ve said all along, changing an economy that failed to grow jobs in a meaningful way for a generation won’t happen overnight. But I am committed to seeing this through.”

Orange Jobs Data Jan. Feb. March April May Labor Force 7,214 7,274 7,247 7,310 7,413 Employed People 6,817 6,855 6,837 6,910 6,940 Unemployed People 397 419 410 400 473 Unemployment Rate (percentage) 5.5 5.8 5.7 5.5 6.4

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