After several painful years, total employment set a record in Delaware in October.
The monthly employment report from the Delaware Department of Labor reported total employment at 443,700 as the state gained back the 35,200 jobs lost between February 2008, the last month the job total was at a record level.
Delaware became the 22nd state to reach that milestone and the only one among its neighboring states to reach the milestone. The state has also ranked high among the 50 states in employment growth.
While Gov. Jack Markell mentioned the milestone at a ceremony marking the opening of the 550-employee headquarters and research center for Incyte Inc., near Wilmington, he added that the state has much work to do.
The jobless rate for the state stood at 6.4 percent in October, compared to 6.5 percent a month earlier. The unemployment rate has stayed above 6 percent as more discouraged workers began looking for jobs. The state had traditionally enjoyed jobless rates well below the national figure.
Markell said that trend shows a higher amount of optimism among job-seekers. At the same time, the jobless rate shows the state has to continue to work hard at improving its economic prospects.
The good news came as the state was unable to reverse a sharp drop in manufacturing and construction employment. Construction employment has perked up by remains below historic levels.
The state lost both of its auto plants and related suppliers in 2008 and 2009 and about a year ago saw the shutdown of the Evraz Claymont Steel mill and the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, a broad category that includes legal, accounting, engineering, and scientific research gained 7,800 jobs. Health Care added 7,700 jobs.
Retail trade remained weaker than some sectors, gaining back 3,700 of 5,600 jobs that were lost.
The figures seem to suggest that many with fewer skills and lower levels of education may have been bypassed by the employment upturn. There is also the question of whether some of the jobs were snared by those living outside the state.
Click on the following link for the full Jobless report
