The last time this many people were out of work in Connecticut was 1976.
The latest state labor department figures are out and the news is grim -- the unemployment rate in Connecticut inched up in February to its highest level in 34 years.
Figures released Thursday show unemployment rose from 9% in January to 9.1% in February. Greater Waterbury had the highest rate at 13.4% -- while Danbury had the lowest with a jobless rate of 8.5%.
The only glimmer of good news is that Connecticut's unemployment rate is still lower than the national level of 9.7%.
A state labor statistician, Salvatore DiPillo, said while the recession has lasted a long time in Connecticut -- 23 months -- there is reason for cautious optimism because the rapid job losses in 2009 appear to have slowed.