State Unemployment Rises

To 6.5 Percent

WETHERSFIELD (AP) — The Connecticut Labor Department says the state’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.5 percent in August, topping the national average of 6.1 percent.

The state’s unemployment rate last month was seven-tenths of a percentage point higher than July’s rate of 5.8 percent, and higher than the August 2007 rate of 4.6 percent.

Connecticut gained 200 jobs from July to August, partly making up ground from the 1,000 jobs it lost between July and August.

Connecticut had 1.7 million jobs last month, a gain of 4,200 over August 2007. State Labor Economist John Tirinzonie says the state has been fortunate to gain 900 jobs since the start of January.

“However, we are walking an economic tightrope and if the national economy does not begin to improve within the next few months, we may find ourselves falling into the same pattern of job losses,” he said.

The Waterbury region had the highest unemployment rate in August at 8.4 percent, followed by the Willimantic-Danielson area at 7.2 percent. The Danbury area’s rate of 5.2 percent was the state’s lowest.