CT Named Richest State

(From The Hartford Courant -- By Janice Podsada)

Connecticut might not be gaining people very fast, but it's at the top of the pack when it comes to gaining income.

In 2007, Connecticut not only remained the nation's richest state -- it widened its lead, a report today showed.

Total income per person rose from $50,762 in 2006 to $54,117 last year -- the highest in the nation and more than 40 percent higher than the national average of $38,611, according to the report, from THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

The 6.6 percent gain in Connecticut's per capita income from 2006 to 2007 was well above the 5.2 percent national average.

Connecticut's high proportion of white-collar workers has been a major factor in keeping the state's per capita income the highest in the nation -- 39 percent of workers over 16 saying they are employed in management or professional jobs, according to THE CENSUS BUREAU's 2006 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY.

Another 15 percent said they held office jobs.

Whether the state will retain its top ranking position in the coming years is a question mark, economists say.

Last year, the state gained 20,500 jobs from December 2006 to 2007, or 1.2 percent -- a healthy total that outpaced the nation's job growth.

But the majority of those gains were in the service industry, typically the lowest paying job category.

At the other end of the spectrum, Connecticut has ranked near the bottom in job growth in the highest-paying categories -- professional and managerial occupations.

Tom Blais, thanks for the post.