New monthly figures show the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down .1 percent in April to 3.3 percent, the second lowest in the nation.
While seasonally adjusted job growth dropped by 100 jobs from March to April, the state points to the longer term figures which show an increase of 1,500 private sector jobs from April, 2013 to April 2014.
However the size of Vermont’s labor force is lower than it was in April of last year, contributing to lower unemployment. The decline in workforce numbers is a national trend.
Hartford recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.5 percent. The highest rate is in Newport at 6.0 percent.
The monthly unemployment number, also known as U-3, measures those who are unemployed but looking for work.
Another figure known as U-6 includes those who have given up looking for jobs and part time workers who can’t find full time employment.
Vermont’s U-6 unemployment rate for 2013 was 9.3 percent.
