North Haven Unemployment Drops to 7.1%

North Haven's unemployment rate dropped to 7.1% in December, the CT Department of Labor reported this week, marking the lowest jobless percentage for the town all year. 

According to data provided by the state agency, 12,243 of the town's 13,176-strong labor force were working in December, while 933 were unemployed.

The figures show a promising trend in the local job market: last month, North Haven's unemployment rate was slightly higher at 7.2%. In January of 2011, that number was 8.7%. 

Looking at the year as a whole, the town saw declines in unemployment every month except for between March and April, when the rate jumped from 7.9% to 8.1%, and June and July, fluctuating from 8.2% to 8.8%. 

The biggest shift came between August and September, when the jobless rate dipped nearly a full percentage point from 8.5% to 7.6%. 

Statewide, unemployment rates saw marginal improvement between November and December of this year, going from 8.4% to 8.2%. 

“After a disappointing performance in the third quarter of 2011, it appears that Connecticut’s labor market has returned to a modest pace towards recovery,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research, in a statement. “Our declining unemployment rate is particularly good news. However, forecasts for job growth in 2012 remain cautious and uncertain with most analysts predicting levels much like what we saw this past year.”

A graph showing North Haven's December unemployment rate going back to 2007 is attached to the article. 

As the data shows, the past several years have seen a steady climb in unemployment rates, going from 3.6% six years ago and peaking in 2010. 

Do you think the job market is improving in North Haven? Tell us in the comments.