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![]() | Last Updated: January 23, 2023![]() |
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Connecticut's jobless rate steady at 4.2% in December as payrolls post decline (-1,600) | ![]() |
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WETHERSFIELD, January 23, 2023 - Connecticut's nonfarm industry payrolls decreased by 1,600 positions (-0.1%) in December 2022 to 1,667,900, while the state's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted). Connecticut's nonfarm industry employment is now 32,100 (2.0%) positions above the December 2021 level. The Nutmeg State has recovered 89.3% (258,300) of the 289,400 nonagricultural positions lost during the 2020 COVID lockdown. Temporary election poll workers boosted employment in November and led to December's decline. Annual average employment in 2022 was 41,600 (2.6%) above the 2021 average. Connecticut's unemployment rate was unchanged from the 4.2% November rate, and down by nine-tenths of a percentage point from the 5.1% rate a year ago. This release presents the labor statistics from two surveys (business establishment and residential) overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in partnership with the states.
"In 2022, Connecticut saw strong job gains, an expanding labor force, and declines in unemployment," said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "The Federal Reserve is attempting to slow the national economy to lower inflation, and Connecticut is participating in that slowdown as job growth slowed toward the end of the year. However, the low level of unemployment claims and the high level of job openings indicate that if the nation is able to avoid recession, Connecticut will see continued job gains in 2023." | ||
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Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey) |
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Connecticut's Private Sector employment held even in December 2022 at 1,441,200 and is now higher by 30,700 positions (2.2%) from the December 2021 level. The state's Private Sector is now 92.1% recovered from the April 2020 COVID employment low. The Government supersector was lower last month, declining 1,600 jobs (-0.7%) to a level of 226,700. Total Government employment in the state is just 1,400 positions (0.6%) above year-ago levels and the public sector is only 57.6% recovered from the COVID April 2020 job trough. Local government (-1,600) accounted for all of the decrease last month as the temporary poll workers for election day (November 8th) were gone by December. The Government supersector in Connecticut includes all federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino employment located on tribal lands.
Five of the ten major industry supersectors tallied jobs in December 2022, while five declined. The five Connecticut industry supersectors that increased employment in December 2022 (below)
The five industry supersectors that decreased in jobs in December 2022 (below)
The initially released November 2022 job gain of 6,200 (0.4%) was revised lower by 3,300 positions to a still positive gain of 2,900 (0.2%). November's initially released private sector gain of 3,300 was revised down to a 300 gain. The largest downward revision was in Administrative & Support Services. |
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Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the six major Connecticut LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS showed nonfarm employment gains in December 2022, while the Danbury LMA (0.0%, 76,800) was unchanged. The Waterbury LMA (0.5%, 66,300) and the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA (0.1%, 398,900) each added 300 positions to lead regional numerical job gains, while the Brass City LMA led in percentage gains overall (0.5%). The New Haven LMA (0.1%, 299,500) added 200 positions, while the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.02%, 574,000) increased 100 jobs. The Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (-0.9%, 120,800) decreased 1,100 jobs.
Note: Six major Connecticut LMAs are estimated independently from the statewide data by the BLS and cover more than 90% of the nonfarm employment in the state. Thus, estimates will not fully sum to the statewide total. |
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Hours and Earnings: The December 2022 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaging 33.5 hours, is lower by nine-tenths of an hour (-0.9%) from the December 2021 average (34.4). Average hourly earnings at $35.22 last month, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.23 (3.6%) from the December 2021 estimate of $33.99. The resultant December 2022 Private Sector weekly wage averaged $1,179.87, higher by $10.16 from a year ago (0.9%, $1,169.26).
Information for the manufacturing production workweek and earnings can be found in the table section of this release under the "Hours and Earnings" data category. Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses. |
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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.1 percent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.5 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for gasoline was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items decrease, more than offsetting increases in shelter indexes. The food index increased 0.3 percent over the month with the food at home index rising 0.2 percent. The energy index decreased 4.5 percent over the month as the gasoline index declined; other major energy component indexes increased over the month. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in December, after rising 0.2 percent in November. Indexes which increased in December include the shelter, household furnishings and operations, motor vehicle insurance, recreation, and apparel indexes. The indexes for used cars and trucks, and airline fares were among those that decreased over the month. The all items index increased 6.5 percent for the 12 months ending December; this was the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending October 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose 5.7 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index increased 7.3 percent for the 12 months ending December, and the food index increased 10.4 percent over the last year; all of these increases were smaller than for the 12-month period ending November. |
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State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate |
The December 2022 unemployment rate for Connecticut was calculated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 4.2% (seasonally adjusted). This is unchanged from the November 2022 level of 4.2%. The Connecticut unemployment rate was 5.1% in December 2021. The statewide jobless rate was 3.4% in February 2020 before the COVID lockdown and got as low as 3.7% in July 2022. Seasonal factors pushed the seasonally adjusted rate up. Not seasonally adjusted, the Connecticut December unemployment rate and number unemployed were lower than any month since 2019. The U.S. unemployment rate for December 2022 was 3.5%, down from the revised November 2022 rate (3.6%) and lower than the December 2021 jobless rate of 3.9% (seasonally adjusted). | |
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Month | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
CT | U.S. | ![]() |
Jan | 5.2 | 4.8 | -0.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 4.2 | 4.0 | -0.2 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 7.3 | 6.4 | -0.9 | 5.3 | 4.0 | -1.3 |
Feb | 5.2 | 4.9 | -0.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 4.2 | 4.1 | -0.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 7.2 | 6.2 | -1.0 | 4.9 | 3.8 | -1.1 |
Mar | 5.1 | 5.0 | -0.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 | -0.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | -0.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | -1.0 | 4.6 | 3.6 | -1.0 |
Apr | 5.0 | 5.1 | 0.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 | -0.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 8.0 | 14.7 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 6.0 | -1.0 | 4.4 | 3.6 | -0.8 |
May | 4.9 | 4.8 | -0.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.8 | -0.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 13.2 | 1.8 | 6.7 | 5.8 | -0.9 | 4.2 | 3.6 | -0.6 |
Jun | 4.9 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 4.3 | -0.1 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 11.1 | 11.0 | -0.1 | 6.7 | 5.9 | -0.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 | -0.4 |
Jul | 4.8 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 4.3 | -0.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | -0.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 11.2 | 10.2 | -1.0 | 6.3 | 5.4 | -0.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 | -0.2 |
Aug | 4.7 | 4.9 | 0.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 9.5 | 8.4 | -1.1 | 6.1 | 5.2 | -0.9 | 4.1 | 3.7 | -0.4 |
Sep | 4.7 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | -0.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | -0.1 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 8.9 | 7.9 | -1.0 | 5.6 | 4.7 | -0.9 | 4.0 | 3.5 | -0.5 |
Oct | 4.7 | 4.9 | 0.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | -0.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 8.1 | 6.9 | -1.2 | 5.4 | 4.6 | -0.8 | 4.3 | 3.7 | -0.6 |
Nov | 4.6 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | -0.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 7.8 | 6.7 | -1.1 | 5.2 | 4.2 | -1.0 | 4.2 | 3.6 | -0.6 |
Dec | 4.6 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 4.3 | 4.1 | -0.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 7.7 | 6.7 | -1.0 | 5.1 | 3.9 | -1.2 | 4.2 | 3.5 | -0.7 |
The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value. |
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Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed |
Unemployment claims for first-time filers (seasonally adjusted) in Connecticut were an average of 3,952 per week in December 2022, up by 452 (12.9%) from the November 2022 (3,500) level and higher by 172 (4.6%) than the average weekly count of 3,780 in December 2021. | |
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Month | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
Labor Force |
Resident Emp. |
Resident Unemp. |
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Jan | 1,885.9 | 1,787.0 | 98.9 | 1,924.2 | 1,836.3 | 87.9 | 1,914.1 | 1,833.5 | 80.6 | 1,942.9 | 1,871.4 | 71.6 | 1,955.9 | 1,888.5 | 67.4 | 1,847.2 | 1,712.3 | 134.9 | 1,867.3 | 1,768.5 | 98.8 |
Feb | 1,886.9 | 1,789.4 | 97.5 | 1,927.4 | 1,840.1 | 87.3 | 1,917.0 | 1,837.4 | 79.6 | 1,943.6 | 1,873.1 | 70.4 | 1,950.8 | 1,883.9 | 66.8 | 1,846.7 | 1,714.6 | 132.1 | 1,869.1 | 1,778.0 | 91.1 |
Mar | 1,888.1 | 1,792.1 | 96.0 | 1,929.7 | 1,842.9 | 86.8 | 1,921.3 | 1,842.8 | 78.6 | 1,944.2 | 1,874.9 | 69.3 | 1,944.8 | 1,878.9 | 65.9 | 1,847.9 | 1,718.9 | 129.0 | 1,879.3 | 1,793.2 | 86.1 |
Apr | 1,889.3 | 1,794.8 | 94.5 | 1,930.6 | 1,844.3 | 86.2 | 1,926.1 | 1,848.6 | 77.5 | 1,945.1 | 1,876.8 | 68.3 | 1,840.8 | 1,694.4 | 146.4 | 1,853.8 | 1,724.2 | 129.5 | 1,887.9 | 1,804.2 | 83.7 |
May | 1,890.7 | 1,797.5 | 93.2 | 1,930.1 | 1,844.5 | 85.6 | 1,930.1 | 1,853.6 | 76.5 | 1,946.7 | 1,879.0 | 67.7 | 1,915.3 | 1,696.3 | 219.0 | 1,853.9 | 1,730.2 | 123.7 | 1,895.1 | 1,816.4 | 78.7 |
Jun | 1,892.1 | 1,800.1 | 92.0 | 1,928.2 | 1,843.2 | 85.0 | 1,933.0 | 1,857.5 | 75.5 | 1,948.9 | 1,881.3 | 67.6 | 1,908.3 | 1,697.0 | 211.4 | 1,861.5 | 1,736.4 | 125.0 | 1,901.3 | 1,825.3 | 76.0 |
Jul | 1,893.5 | 1,802.7 | 90.9 | 1,925.5 | 1,840.9 | 84.6 | 1,935.0 | 1,860.4 | 74.6 | 1,951.2 | 1,883.2 | 68.0 | 1,916.7 | 1,702.6 | 214.1 | 1,859.9 | 1,742.2 | 117.7 | 1,900.0 | 1,828.8 | 71.2 |
Aug | 1,895.0 | 1,805.2 | 89.8 | 1,922.2 | 1,838.0 | 84.2 | 1,936.5 | 1,862.7 | 73.8 | 1,953.3 | 1,885.0 | 68.4 | 1,884.3 | 1,705.7 | 178.6 | 1,861.4 | 1,748.7 | 112.7 | 1,905.5 | 1,827.8 | 77.7 |
Sep | 1,896.7 | 1,807.6 | 89.0 | 1,918.8 | 1,835.0 | 83.7 | 1,938.0 | 1,864.6 | 73.4 | 1,955.5 | 1,887.1 | 68.4 | 1,878.4 | 1,710.5 | 168.0 | 1,859.1 | 1,754.4 | 104.6 | 1,903.5 | 1,826.6 | 76.9 |
Oct | 1,898.6 | 1,810.0 | 88.6 | 1,915.9 | 1,832.7 | 83.1 | 1,939.3 | 1,866.2 | 73.1 | 1,957.6 | 1,889.4 | 68.2 | 1,861.1 | 1,710.9 | 150.1 | 1,860.5 | 1,759.6 | 100.9 | 1,903.7 | 1,822.4 | 81.3 |
Nov | 1,900.8 | 1,812.7 | 88.1 | 1,913.9 | 1,831.4 | 82.5 | 1,940.7 | 1,867.8 | 72.8 | 1,959.2 | 1,891.1 | 68.1 | 1,856.1 | 1,711.5 | 144.6 | 1,856.3 | 1,759.7 | 96.6 | 1,898.5 | 1,819.0 | 79.5 |
Dec | 1,903.6 | 1,815.9 | 87.7 | 1,913.2 | 1,831.6 | 81.6 | 1,941.9 | 1,869.6 | 72.3 | 1,958.8 | 1,891.0 | 67.9 | 1,853.8 | 1,711.5 | 142.3 | 1,853.7 | 1,759.1 | 94.7 | 1,897.1 | 1,817.3 | 79.8 |
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The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value. | ![]() |
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Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, March 10, 2023 (January 2023, preliminary data) |
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State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109 LMI Home | CTDOL Home | CT.gov | Feedback | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. (more) |
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