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Fairfield County Adds Jobs In March; State Unemployment Rate Holds

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Fairfield County added jobs in March and Connecticut's unemployment rate held at 7 percent, according to the state Department of Labor. 

The jobs outlook improved in Connecticut in March.

The jobs outlook improved in Connecticut in March.

Photo Credit: File Photo

The state added 4,900 total non-farm jobs, an increase of 0.3 percent in March, according to a press release from the Department of Labor. The unemployment rate in the state for March was 7 percent, unchanged from February, but down from the 7.8 percent from March 2013, according to the release. 

The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk Labor Market Area added 1,900 non-farm jobs, an increase of 0.5 percent, according to the release.  The statewide labor force estimate grew in March (7,012, 0.4 percent), mostly on increased residential employment. The number of unemployed residents in the state increased slightly (396, 0.3 percent) in March, but is down (-15,918, -10.9 percent) from March 2013.

"This month’s unchanged rate of 7.0 percent (unemployment) ends a string of seven monthly declines in a row going back to July 2013 when the rate was 7.9 percent," Labor Department representatives said in the release. 

“March showed some solid signs of a return to previous job growth trends,” said Andy Condon, director of the department's Office of Research. “These include the third month in a row of an expanding labor force and employment/population ratio, growing manufacturing employment, and positive movements in private-sector hours and earnings. Recovery trend employment growth appears to be returning following the volatile winter.”

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