Conn. adds few jobs in Nov. as jobless rate dips

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut labor officials say the state's economy added a scant 300 jobs in November, which was hampered by recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy.

The state said on Thursday that the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent from 9 percent in October.

Andy Condon, director of the office of research at the Connecticut Department of Labor, said the job and unemployment numbers are encouraging, particularly because it contrasts with the destruction along Connecticut's shoreline due to Sandy, which hit the Northeast on Oct. 29.

But he said the continuing trend of a labor force decline causes concern.

Connecticut has recovered 30,700 jobs, or about 26 percent of the 117,500 jobs lost in the deepest recession in decades.

The 300-job increase in November represents less than 0.05 percent.

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