Waterbury, CT – December 2023 Jobs Report – Job gains continue amid slight slowdown

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The Waterbury job market ended 2023 on a positive note, adding jobs for the eighth consecutive month. However, the pace of growth moderated compared to earlier in the year.

Overview:

  • Waterbury’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% in December, below the national average of 3.5%. [1]
  • The city added 700 jobs in December, bringing the total nonfarm employment to 69,100. [1]
  • This represents a 2.5% increase year-over-year and a 0.3% increase from November 2023. [1]

Highlights:

  • Leisure and hospitality continued to be the fastest-growing sector, adding 200 jobs in December. [1]
  • Professional and business services also saw strong growth, adding 150 jobs. [1]
  • Manufacturing employment remained stable, with no significant changes in December. [1]

Industries and Occupations that Grew:

  • Leisure and hospitality occupations such as waiters and waitresses, chefs, and cooks saw the most significant job gains. [2]
  • Professional and business services occupations such as registered nurses, customer service representatives, and administrative assistants also added jobs. [2]
  • Other growing occupations included truck drivers, construction laborers, and personal care aides. [2]

Industries and Occupations that Shrank:

  • There were no major declines in any industry or occupation in December. [1, 2]

Comparison to Same Month Last Year:

  • Waterbury’s job market has grown by 2.5% compared to December 2022. [1]
  • This is slightly slower than the national job growth rate of 4.6% over the same period. [3]

Comparison to Previous Month:

  • Job growth in Waterbury slowed down in December compared to November 2023, when the city added 1,200 jobs. [1]

Future Outlook:

  • The future outlook for the Waterbury job market is cautiously optimistic.
  • Economists predict continued job growth in 2024, but at a slower pace than in 2023. [4]

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Customer Service Representatives
  3. Truck Drivers
  4. Construction Laborers
  5. Personal Care Aides
  6. Software Developers and Applications Developers
  7. Janitors and Cleaners
  8. Retail Salespersons
  9. Home Health Aides
  10. Physical Therapy Aides

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. Saint Mary’s Hospital
  2. Therapedic Associates of Waterbury, P.C.
  3. Pratt & Whitney
  4. Risdon Manufacturing
  5. The Home Depot
  6. Walmart
  7. Lowe’s
  8. Target
  9. Stop & Shop
  10. McDonald’s

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