Conn. job gains in Feb. cut unemployment rate

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. -- Connecticut's Labor Department says the state regained 800 jobs in February after a major employment decline in January caused by extreme weather.

Labor officials reported Thursday that the unemployment rate fell to 7 percent in February from 7.2 percent in January. It's still higher than the U.S. rate of 6.7 percent in February.

Unemployment in Connecticut peaked at 9.5 percent in November 2010. The most recent high point was 7.9 percent last July.

Connecticut has added 10,300 jobs over the year, with the private sector adding 2,700 jobs. Labor officials say the turnaround from the decline in January seems to confirm that weather was at least partly responsible.

The state has recovered 59,500 jobs, or nearly half of the 119,100 jobs lost in the downturn from March 2008 to February 2010.