State Jobless Rate Reaches 8.3 Percent

Connecticut's unemployment picture isn't getting any prettier.

Connecticut's unemployment rose to 8.3 percent in October from 8.2 percent in September, according to figures released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Hartford region, which includes Hartford, Tolland and Middlesex counties, had the same size increase, rising to 8.4 percent in October from 8.3 percent in September.

What those figures actually mean is that more than 50,000 people in Greater Hartford are jobless and are looking for work, the most of any region in the state.

Across Connecticut, more than 158,000 people are out of work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

People who have given up looking, or who are working part-time but would like to work full-time, are not represented in the new numbers, the Hartford Courant reports.

The Hartford metro area has the second-highest unemployment in the state. Waterbury's jobless rate is at 11.2 percent.

According to the state Department of Labor WARN notices report for November, companies that operate in the state reported that 328 more jobs will be lost between now and the end of January. That is up from 96 in October.

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