State economist George Sharpley says Delaware is "definitely in an economic recovery."
The private sector has added a total of 4,700 jobs in the first half of the year. The state's unemployment rate stood at 8.5 percent in June, down from 8.8 percent in May.
The nation's overall unemployment rate was 9.5 percent in June. Sharpley says Delaware made significant gains in tourism and hospitality, as well as in the retail, manufacturing and financial sectors.
The state has added jobs every month, except for February when winter storms limited hiring.
Last month, 36,300 Delaware residents were looking for work, compared with 35,200 in June 2009.
