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Public Sector Job Growth Beats Out Private Sector In July

Connecticut added more government jobs in July according to data released by the state Department of Labor (DOL) Aug. 18. Out of the total 6,500 new jobs, 3,900 (or 60%) were public sector positions, overshadowing the gains made in the private sector (2,600).

Local government was particularly strong adding 3,800 . According to a DOL , the additional jobs are likely due to federal COVID-19 funding that allowed municipalities to run summer programs.

Construction positions constitute most of the private sector growth with 1,500 new jobs. However, not every private sector industry fared well. Financial activities, information and other services suffered losses with hospitality being the hardest hit — losing 600 jobs.

The state’s private sector continues to lag the nation in recovering job losses due to the pandemic. The U.S. economy fully recovered this past April while Connecticut has only regained 88%. Compared to private sector employment levels in February 2020, the state is still off 31,200 jobs from a full recovery.

*Source: CT Department of Labor and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Meghan Portfolio

Meghan worked in the private sector for two decades in various roles in management, sales, and project management. She was an intern on a presidential campaign and field organizer in a governor’s race. Meghan, a Connecticut native, joined Yankee Institute in 2019 as the Development Manager. After two years with Yankee, she has moved into the policy space as Yankee’s Manager of Research and Analysis. When she isn’t keeping up with local and current news, she enjoys running–having completed seven marathons–and reading her way through Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels.

2 Comments

  1. Mark Scott
    September 21, 2022 @ 10:03 am

    Meghan,
    Thank you for understanding and pointing out the continuing problem in this state; the private sector is being decimated and all the time expected to support more and more public employees and their benefits.
    the wealthy in this state want the most expensive public employees in the country on the payroll, but they also want private sector workers to pay for them. This is OCCURRING at a time when private sector workers are not even keeping up with inflation.
    Exactly when do we private sector workers get a break? we do not want all of these government workers and we can not afford them.

    Reply

  2. Jay Koolis
    September 30, 2022 @ 10:34 pm

    Yes CONNECTICUT had a large growth in public sector job gains but that is because of the massive amount of retirements at the state level and the great need to replace lost workers. Also we haven’t regained private Sector jobs because manY like me have left the wOrkforce because we can afford to. I get calls all the time to return to work but refuse. I know several people doing the same. Not many states have that kind affluence. Why doesn’t the yankee institute study that?

    Reply

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