CBIA Reaction to April 2021 Employment Report

The state’s largest business organization issued the following response to today’s release of the April 2021 employment report.

“The latest jobs report features some concerning trends for the state’s economic recovery that policymakers must consider,” CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said today.

“The net decline in private sector jobs is troubling, as our COVID-19 jobs recovery has stalled at 60%, below the national average and behind most of the New England states.

“It seems counter intuitive, as Connecticut’s unemployment rate is the highest in the region, but employers cannot find people to fill entry-level and skilled positions across a number of sectors, including leisure and hospitality, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services.

“Some of the factors our members are citing as barriers to hiring include childcare issues, fears of contracting COVID-19, the federal unemployment benefit supplement, and the continued suspension of the state’s work search requirement for those on unemployment.

“In addition, businesses are anxiously watching the current budget debate, with the continued push for more than a $1 billion in tax hikes leaving many employers to adopt a wait and see approach before they’ll commit to any new investments in the state.”

CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state. For more information, please contact Joe Budd (860.244.1951).