The latest unemployment rates decreased in four of the six New England states.
Numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Massachusetts had the largest drop in the region between October and November — with the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate falling from 7.4% to 6.7%.
Maine and New Hampshire both experienced decreases of 0.4%, with Maine now at 5% and new Hampshire at 3.8%.
The jobless rate in Vermont ticked down a tenth of a percentage point to 3.1%. Vermont is one of two states with the lowest rate in the nation – the other being Nebraska.
The employment numbers took a different turn in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Rhode Island's rate increased 0.2%, to 7.3% in November.
Connecticut's unemployment rate has been among the most stable in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic, never rising above 10.2%. But for the first time since February, the Nutmeg State has the highest jobless rate in New England, rising from 6.1% in October to 8.2% in November.
In a statement, researcher Patrick Flaherty with the Connecticut Department of Labor attributed some of the job losses to the end of Census collection, as those temporary government workers lost their jobs.
"In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in leisure and hospitality where accommodation and food service lost a portion of last month's gains," Flaherty said. "Offsetting these declines, transportation and warehousing, which includes delivery services, grew in November and now employs more people than one year ago."
One person in Connecticut who recently lost his job is David Fisch. He worked at an iHeartMedia radio station in Hartford for three years, before he was laid off last month. Fisch has been on the search for work in his profession since then and is confident of landing a new job sometime next year.
"I’m sure at some point, the severance and the unemployment and the government programs will run their course," Fisch said. "But I feel like now is a good time to be benefiting from being a taxpayer."
The national rate for November was 6.7%, down from October's rate of 6.9%.
Sam Hudzik contributed to this report.
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