Nonfarm Jobs: December’s total nonfarm job estimate grew slightly by 600 positions or less than 0.05%. Since December 2010, the state has added 9,000 jobs (0.6%) for a current employment level of 1,627,800. The November Connecticut jobs estimate of a 100 increase was revised lower by 1,500 to a 1,400 decline (-0.1%). The state has now created 10,000 jobs or a 0.6% employment growth since January 2011. Most of this gain has come since August (10,300). Four of Connecticut’s ten employment supersectors had gains, while five had declines, and one sector was unchanged last month.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector led all major sector growth in December, adding 2,500 jobs, or 0.9%. The retail trade component in this supersector provided the largest job gain (1,900, 1.1%) last month, boding well for holiday sales in the state. The transportation segment added personnel (+800, 1.7%), perhaps exhibiting positive holiday activity from e-commerce. Meanwhile, the wholesale trade part slightly declined (-200, -0.3%) last month. This large supersector has contributed the most sector job growth since last December (+5,700, 2.0%).

Leisure and hospitality (800, 0.6%) was the next largest job sector advancer, with the smaller arts, entertainment, and recreation component adding 1,000 positions (4.1%), while the larger accommodation and food service portion eased down 200 jobs or -0.2%. Leisure and hospitality was up 1,600 (1.2%) over the year.

Education and health services contributed positively this month, adding 500 jobs (0.2%). The education portion was slightly lower (-100, -0.2%) consistent with the end of the college semester, but healthcare and social assistance continued to add jobs (600, 0.2%). This sector is the second largest job contributing grouping since December 2010 (5,100, 1.6%).

The information sector had a marginal increase of 100 or 0.3%. This sector is higher by 400 (1.3%) since last December. All private sector industries added 700 positions in December and have increased 9,400 (0.7%) in employment since December 2010, and have added 10,700 (0.8%) since the beginning of 2011.

The manufacturing sector lost 1,500 jobs (-0.9%) in December, the largest major sector decline last month. The durable goods portion declined the most (-1,300, -1.0%) and non-durable goods contributed another 200 (-0.5%) to the overall monthly decline. Production industries are now lower since last December (-2,300, -1.4%).

The financial activities category finished 2011 lower by 900 (-0.7%) jobs. Both finance and insurance (-800, -0.7%) and real estate (-100, -0.5%) figured in on the job loss. Financial activities industries are the biggest declining major sector over the year (-4,300, -3.2%).

Other services eliminated 400 jobs (-0.7%) in December and are lower by 500 (-0.8%) since December 2010. This sector had been bolstered since Storm Irene with activity in repair and maintenance services, but fell off this month as storm remediation tapered off.

The professional and business services sector lost 300 positions (-0.2%) last month but is a strong job contributor over the year (3,300, 1.7%). The monthly loss in this sector was mainly attributed to a 900 (-1.1%) decline in professional, scientific, and technical services. This loss was partially offset by a 600 (0.7%) gain from administrative and support services (which includes employment services).

All government employment fell slightly (-100, or less than 0.05%) last month. Both federal and local government were unchanged in December, while state government dropped by (-100, -0.2%). Compared to last December, the government sector is lower by 400 (-0.2%, note: Native American Indian government and gaming employment are tallied in local government).

Construction employment was unchanged in December at 49,100. Building sectors are higher since December 2010 (500, 1.0%), but have come down since July when the sector was estimated at 51,100 jobs.