Unemployment Rate Drops as Connecticut Adds Hundreds of Jobs in July

Connecticut added roughly 700 jobs in July, continuing 2024’s steady job growth and an ongoing decline in the state’s unemployment rate, according to a monthly report released Thursday by the Department of Labor.

The agency reported a 0.3% decrease in the unemployment rate, which stood at 3.6% in July — well below the national average of 4.3%, according to the department. Meanwhile, private sector employment grew by around 1,900 jobs, reaching a new high of 1,477,800 payroll positions, the report found.

In a Thursday press release, Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said that July’s growth had been slower than the previous months, but remained a positive sign nonetheless.

“Overall, the data points to a strong economy with low unemployment and tens of thousands of job opportunities across industry sectors,” Bartolomeo said. “This continues to be a good market for job seekers.”

The report’s strongest job growth came in the Other Services Sector and the Administrative Support Services Sector, Patrick Flaherty, the agency’s director of research and information, said.

Although jobs numbers are often revised in subsequent monthly reports, the July report found that the strong 3,300-job increase reported in June held steady after revisions.

In a video posted to the Labor Department’s Youtube channel, Flaherty said that factors like changing weather patterns had made seasonal adjustments to monthly labor figures more difficult, making trends more valuable than monthly snapshots of the state’s labor situation.

Those trends have shown steady growth in Connecticut’s workforce.

“Taking the slightly longer view, Connecticut has seen job growth every month so far in 2024, total employment is now 105.4% recovered from the COVID lockdown, and private sector employment is at an all-time high,” he said.

Posted by Hugh McQuaid

Mosquito Viruses Spreading Sooner, Further Due To Climate Change

In recent weeks, the news reports have been constant – mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE, have been found in towns and cities around Connecticut. As scientists trap and test the tiny insects, they’ve found West Nile in bugs in more than a dozen places, with EEE’s presence growing as well.

This is not necessarily something new, as West Nile has circulated in Connecticut semi-frequently in past years since its presence was first detected in 2000. As recently as 2019, schools and sports programs adjusted their schedules and put new procedures in place to prevent the potential spread of the viruses when they were tracked in many communities. But this year, West Nile and EEE arrived ahead of schedule – a trend that may have a concerning pattern.

While West Nile usually grows in prevalence around mid-August, with more tracking seen until autumn temperatures kill off mosquito populations statewide, News 12 Connecticut reported this year got an early start for the illness. This year saw the first infections found in early July – that’s up to six weeks ahead of schedule as Fairfield County, where first reports came out of, usually sees the virus grow in prevalence in mid-August. Last year saw cases in mosquitoes grow beginning in mid-July, while first infections in humans (of which there are thankfully none yet this year)

Several studies have linked the increase in tracked cases among mosquitoes with the effects of climate change. This winter’s unusually mild weather with lots of rain, caused by El Nino, contributed to cases – but conditions like those are expected to be more common in future years, and directly correlate with increased mosquito activity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, climate change can accelerate mosquito development, biting rates and incubation of diseases they carry; mild winters and drought, as well as bird migration and breeding patterns, impact how West Nile spreads.

In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the largest outbreak of West Nile virus were found in the summer and fall of 2021 in Arizona, with more than 1,500 cases tracked. A wetter-than-average monsoon season in the impacted part of Arizona fostered increased mosquito development, dropping three times as much rain as expected in the region, which maintained mosquito breeding sites and possibly led to a massive increase in the regional mosquito population.

While up to 80% of people who contract West Nile virus will never show symptoms, it can cause serious illness and even death for younger, older and vulnerable populations. EEE is even worse, threatening the lives of up to 30% of people who contract it. Being mindful of mosquito presence can help protect against the insects, as can simple precautions – bug spray, long sleeves, pants and shoes, and performing upkeep in your home (fixing screens) and property (getting rid of standing water) all play a role in keeping mosquitoes away and keeping the rest of your summer healthy and fun.

Posted by Joe O’Leary

Lead Free CT Campaign

A new campaign has been launched in Connecticut with the goal of protecting children from the harmful health impacts of lead and creating a lead-free Connecticut. The Lead Free CT campaign, overseen by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, will:

·         Make older homes where children or pregnant people live lead safe;

·         Collect information on all known lead service water lines in Connecticut;

·         Replace lead pipes that bring water to homes, childcare centers, and schools;

·         Support families who find lead in their home or water;

·         Offer funding to get Connecticut communities lead-free;

·         Have all Connecticut children tested for lead;

·         Raise awareness of lead testing and safety among parents; and

·         Educate communities, contractors, and landlords on lead laws and safety.

On Wednesday, August 7, Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Larson, Commissioner Juthani, state Senator Saud Anwar, and officials from the Department of Public Health and Connecticut Children’s joined for the launch of the Lead Free CT campaign. As Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, Senator Anwar says he knows lead poisoning still has too strong of an impact on far too many children in our state.

“This new initiative will support lead abatement for homeowners to make homes lead-safe, collect information on where there are still lead pipes in our state, and test children for lead to make sure all have the best opportunities to learn and grow,” said Sen. Anwar. ” We owe every child in our state the best chance to grow into the adults leading our next generation and by preventing and fighting lead poisoning, we’ll get that much closer to that goal.”

“Every year, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are impacted by lead,” Governor Lamont said. “Lead poisoning can affect our children by causing health and brain changes that may impact them through school years and beyond – causing behavior problems, poor performance, and a risk of long-term, negative impacts. Based on the data of children tested in Connecticut, where blood lead levels trigger the requirement for environmental testing of the home, lead-based paint and lead dust in pre-1978 homes are the largest contributors to childhood lead exposure in homes.”

A key component of the Lead Free CT campaign includes the launch of a lead abatement program, which is providing homeowners and landlords with the opportunity to make older homes lead-safe by removing lead paint hazards at no cost. Funded by $20 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, this limited-time program will help in the safe removal of lead hazards from homes, including family childcare settings. Participation in this program is entirely voluntary and free of charge to homeowners and landlords. The Connecticut Department of Public Health is partnering with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to administer the program.

To view eligibility details and apply, visit leadfreect.org.

Posted by Michelle Rappaport