CT Unveils New Initiative to Help the Long-Term Unemployed

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy’s administration has revealed an outreach effort to help more than 12,000 long-term jobless workers receive social services and job training after losing extended unemployment insurance benefits. WAMC’s Lucas Willard reports…

Less than an hour before the initiative was announced Thursday, the state Labor Department said the unemployment rate in April remained stuck at 7.7 percent.

Connecticut's unemployment rate has dropped from a high of 9.4 percent in December 2010. The falling rate has prompted federal officials to cut extended benefits.

Individuals who may have expected 99 weeks of unemployment are now eligible for 73 weeks.

Malloy received a report that says the state already is serving about one-third of those who are facing an unexpected loss of unemployment benefits, with a large portion receiving food stamps.

Lucas Willard, WAMC News

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