State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: April 7th, 2026

CT starts year with payroll job gain (5,300) but higher jobless rate (4.5%) on revised data

WETHERSFIELD, April 7, 2026 - Connecticut's nonfarm payrolls added 5,300 jobs (0.3%) in January 2026, to a level of 1,722,300 (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data) to a level 5,500 jobs above one year ago. The unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.5%. The statewide jobless rate is now up a nine-tenths of a percentage point since January 2025 (3.6%). The Connecticut December 2025 nonfarm job number was a small 400 estimated gain (0.02%) on the new benchmark after indicating a small 500 decline (-0.03%) on the preliminary release in the prior benchmark. Connecticut has risen above the U.S. unemployment rate (currently 4.3% for January 2026) for the first time since January 2023. This labor statistics release presents current estimated data from two different monthly surveys (businesses and households) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in association with the states. This is newly benchmarked data.

"Benchmark revisions show that job growth and the unemployment rate were just slightly higher in 2025 than previously estimated,"" said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "The unemployment rate rose modestly, and job growth slowed toward the end of 2025. Payroll jobs numbers show Connecticut got off to a good start in 2026."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment was higher by 5,000 positions (0.3%) in January 2026 at 1,487,000 and is up by 6,900 jobs (0.5%) from the January 2025 level. The December 2025 private sector job revision disclosed a 200 job gain (0.01%) on the new benchmark (previous estimate was a 1,000 loss). The full government supersector was also higher by 300 (0.1%) in January to a level of 235,300 jobs but is now lower by 1,400 (-0.6%) positions over the year. Federal government employment in Connecticut is down 1,200 jobs from the January 2025 level. Connecticut's total government supersector consists of all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations.

Nine of the ten major industry supersectors gained jobs in January 2026, while one supersector declined.

The nine industry supersectors that increased employment in January 2026 included:

Trade, Transportation & Utilities +1,400 0.5% 297,700
Professional and Business Services +1,100 0.5% 222,400
Manufacturing +800 0.5% 152,000
Education & Health Services +700 0.2% 380,500
Construction & Mining +500 0.8% 65,800
Other Services +400 0.6% 65,200
Government +300 0.1% 235,300
Information +200 0.7% 30,300
Leisure & Hospitality +100 0.1% 156,000

The single industry supersector that declined jobs in January 2026 was:

Financial Activities -200 -0.2% 117,100

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted
	January	December	November	October	January	Over Month		Over Year
	2026 P	2025 R	2025 R	2025	2025	Change	Rate	Change	Rate

CONNECTICUT	1,722,300	1,717,000	1,716,600	1,716,000	1,716,800	5,300	0.3%	5,500	0.3%
Total Private	1,487,000	1,482,000	1,481,800	1,480,700	1,480,100	5,000	0.3%	6,900	0.5%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	400	0	0.0%	100	25.0%
Construction	65,300	64,800	64,800	64,100	63,700	500	0.8%	1,600	2.5%
Manufacturing	152,000	151,200	151,800	151,500	154,200	800	0.5%	-2,200	-1.4%
Durable Goods	118,700	118,200	118,300	117,800	120,600	500	0.4%	-1,900	-1.6%
Nondurable Goods	33,300	33,000	33,500	33,700	33,600	300	0.9%	-300	-0.9%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	297,700	296,300	296,300	297,700	298,300	1,400	0.5%	-600	-0.2%
Wholesale	59,700	59,700	59,600	59,800	60,200	0	0.0%	-500	-0.8%
Retail	162,800	162,900	163,900	163,800	164,700	-100	-0.1%	-1,900	-1.2%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	75,200	73,700	72,800	74,100	73,400	1,500	2.0%	1,800	2.5%
Information	30,300	30,100	30,000	30,100	30,700	200	0.7%	-400	-1.3%
Financial Activities	117,100	117,300	117,500	117,600	116,900	-200	-0.2%	200	0.2%
Finance & Insurance	97,400	97,600	97,800	97,900	97,500	-200	-0.2%	-100	-0.1%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	19,700	19,700	19,700	19,700	19,400	0	0.0%	300	1.5%
Professional & Business Services	222,400	221,300	220,700	221,300	221,200	1,100	0.5%	1,200	0.5%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	102,100	101,500	101,300	101,500	102,500	600	0.6%	-400	-0.4%
Management of Companies	30,600	30,000	30,100	30,300	30,700	600	2.0%	-100	-0.3%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	89,700	89,800	89,300	89,500	88,000	-100	-0.1%	1,700	1.9%
Educational & Health Services	380,500	379,800	379,500	377,300	374,800	700	0.2%	5,700	1.5%
Private Educational Services	74,300	75,000	74,900	75,300	75,200	-700	-0.9%	-900	-1.2%
Health Care & Social Assistance	306,200	304,800	304,600	302,000	299,600	1,400	0.5%	6,600	2.2%
Leisure and Hospitality	156,000	155,900	156,300	156,100	155,200	100	0.1%	800	0.5%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	29,500	29,600	29,200	28,600	28,900	-100	-0.3%	600	2.1%
Accommodation & Food Services	126,500	126,300	127,100	127,500	126,300	200	0.2%	200	0.2%
Other Services	65,200	64,800	64,400	64,500	64,700	400	0.6%	500	0.8%
Government**	235,300	235,000	234,800	235,300	236,700	300	0.1%	-1,400	-0.6%
UNITED STATES	158,627,000	158,497,000	158,449,000	158,408,000	158,268,000	130,000	0.1%	359,000	0.2%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the five major Connecticut LMAs (the 5 Metros formed from the CT Councils of Governments or COG regions) that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (about 93.7% coverage of the state) exhibited nonfarm job gains in January 2026, even as the Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (-0.1%, 129,200) declined by just 100 positions. The largest Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.2%, 622,000) led in numerical gains, adding 1,500 jobs while the Waterbury-Shelton LMA (0.4%, 159,800) led in percentage gains (700). The New Haven LMA (0.2%, 289,800) was up by 500 payrolls, and the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (0.1%, 413,000) increased employment by 400 jobs.

LABOR MARKET AREAS (LMAs, COG-based)
Labor Market Area employment estimates are made independently of Statewide estimates.

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)	January	December	November	October	January	Over Month		Over Year
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MSAs)	2026 P	2025 R	2025 R	2025	2025	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	413,000	412,600	412,300	411,900	409,200	400	0.1%	3,800	0.9%
Hartford	622,000	620,500	620,300	619,700	622,000	1,500	0.2%	0	0.0%
New Haven	289,800	289,300	288,600	288,500	288,400	500	0.2%	1,400	0.5%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	129,200	129,300	129,300	129,400	128,100	-100	-0.1%	1,100	0.9%
Waterbury - Shelton	159,800	159,100	159,200	159,400	161,300	700	0.4%	-1,500	-0.9%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non-Classified Areas, 2 Micropolitan Statistical Areas - Micros, State estimated - not BLS)
Putnam - Northeastern	28,800	29,000	29,100	29,200	28,700	-200	-0.7%	100	0.3%
Torrington - Northwest Hills	37,400	38,000	38,000	38,100	37,200	-600	-1.6%	200	0.5%

* Less than 0					P = Preliminary		R = Revised
Starting in March, 2011, our monthly statewide and major LMA nonfarm job estimates have been taken over by the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the final phase of transition in this program, which began in 2008. As a result of changes in the estimation procedures, you are likely to see more variability in month-to-month estimates of job counts. Caution should be used in interpreting any single month’s estimate. The data are best interpreted to identify trends and cycles over several months and quarters. If you have any questions about these changes, please email us at: dol.lmi@ct.gov. COG - Council of Government regions.



Connecticut Labor Situation								January 2026		January 2009

Note: The five major Connecticut LMAs are independently estimated from the statewide data by the BLS and cover over 93% of the nonfarm employment in the state. As a result, estimates will not exactly sum to the statewide total. Furthermore, monthly Seasonal Adjustment (SA) on these five labor markets may undergo some shifting seasonality effects due to the concurrent seasonal process exaggerating some movements on the new geographies due to the lack of more precise historical seasonal factors.

Hours and Earnings: The January 2026 Private Sector average work week, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.4 hours (AWH), higher by two-tenths of an hour from the January 2025 average (0.6%, 33.2). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $40.25 in January 2026, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.30 (3.3%, first time ever over $40.00 statewide) from the January 2025 average estimate of $38.95. The resulting January 2026 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE = AWH x AHE) were estimated at $1,344.35, higher by $51.21 (4.0%) from a year ago ($1,293.14). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted - all items index) for January 2026 was up 2.4% from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Jan		CHG	Dec	Jan		CHG	Dec	Jan		CHG	Dec
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2026	2025	Y/Y	2025	2026	2025	Y/Y	2025	2026	2025	Y/Y	2025
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,164.81	$1,232.40	-$67.59	$1,176.53	40.6	39.5	1.1	40.5	$28.69	$31.20	-$2.51	$29.05
DURABLE GOODS	1,189.49	1,305.72	-116.23	1,203.38	39.4	39.0	0.4	39.9	30.19	33.48	-3.29	30.16
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,095.60	1,014.32	81.28	1,097.55	44.0	40.9	3.1	42.1	24.90	24.80	0.10	26.07
CONSTRUCTION	1,588.80	1,566.53	22.27	1,655.17	40.0	39.8	0.2	41.0	39.72	39.36	0.36	40.37

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,344.35	1,293.14	51.21	1,344.56	33.4	33.2	0.2	33.8	40.25	38.95	1.30	39.78
GOODS PRODUCING	1,559.64	1,558.67	0.97	1,598.97	38.5	39.5	-1.0	39.2	40.51	39.46	1.05	40.79
Construction	1,592.47	1,629.61	-37.14	1,664.21	36.6	38.2	-1.6	38.1	43.51	42.66	0.85	43.68
Manufacturing	1,473.91	1,503.60	-29.69	1,508.80	39.9	40.0	-0.1	40.0	36.94	37.59	-0.65	37.72
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,306.50	1,246.76	59.74	1,301.85	32.5	32.1	0.4	32.9	40.20	38.84	1.36	39.57
Trade, Transp., Utilities	1,055.28	994.75	60.53	1,033.06	32.5	31.7	0.8	32.9	32.47	31.38	1.09	31.40
Financial Activities	2,371.43	2,133.79	237.64	2,331.20	37.6	37.0	0.6	37.6	63.07	57.67	5.40	62.00
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,654.13	1,653.95	0.18	1,655.66	33.6	35.5	-1.9	34.9	49.23	46.59	2.64	47.44
Education & Health Ser.	1,237.47	1,166.43	71.04	1,242.81	33.4	32.5	0.9	33.4	37.05	35.89	1.16	37.21
Leisure & Hospitality	626.20	617.91	8.29	666.59	24.8	25.8	-1.0	26.1	25.25	23.95	1.30	25.54
Other Services	856.44	846.37	10.07	825.74	27.0	28.1	-1.1	26.5	31.72	30.12	1.60	31.16

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,421.98	1,327.74	94.24	1,422.75	33.1	32.8	0.3	33.5	42.96	40.48	2.48	42.47
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,322.31	1,314.77	7.54	1,320.35	33.4	33.6	-0.2	34.1	39.59	39.13	0.46	38.72
New Haven	1,295.11	1,213.27	81.84	1,269.65	33.5	32.8	0.7	33.5	38.66	36.99	1.67	37.90
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,158.79	1,144.04	14.75	1,175.30	31.8	32.1	-0.3	32.2	36.44	35.64	0.80	36.50
Waterbury-Shelton	1,144.59	1,163.32	-18.73	1,182.72	32.9	33.7	-0.8	33.6	34.79	34.52	0.27	35.20

Note: Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, after rising 0.2 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose 0.2 percent in February and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase. The food index increased 0.4 percent over the month as did the food at home index, while the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent. The index for energy also increased in February, rising 0.6 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February. Indexes that increased over the month include medical care, apparel, household furnishings and operations, airline fares, and education. Conversely, the indexes for communication, used cars and trucks, motor vehicle insurance, and personal care were among the major indexes that decreased in February.

The all items index rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending February, the same increase as reported for the 12 months ending January. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.5 percent over the year, also the same increase as reported for the 12 months ending in January. The energy index increased 0.5 percent for the 12 months ending February. The food index increased 3.1 percent over the last year.

Additional information about the impact of the shutdown on CPI data is available online at https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/2025-federal-government-shutdown-impact-cpi.htm

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary January 2026 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 4.5% (seasonally adjusted after the recent annual processing). CT's unemployment rate is now up two-tenths of percentage point from the December 2025 rate (4.3%) and nine-tenths percentage point from a year ago (3.6%). The U.S. unemployment rate for January 2026 was 4.3%, down one-tenth of a percentage point (4.4%) from December 2025 but up three-tenths of a percentage point over-the-year from January 2025 (4.0%).

Chart comparing unemployment rates for Connecticut and the United States, seasonally adjusted, from 2012 to 2025.

Month	2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			2026
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	3.7	4.0	0.3	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.2	6.4	-0.8	4.8	4.0	-0.8	3.4	3.5	0.1	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.6	4.0	0.4	4.5	4.3	-0.2
Feb	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.2	6.2	-1.0	4.5	3.8	-0.7	3.3	3.6	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.7	4.1	0.4
Mar	3.5	3.8	0.3	3.9	4.4	0.5	7.1	6.1	-1.0	4.3	3.7	-0.6	3.2	3.5	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.7	4.2	0.5
Apr	3.5	3.7	0.2	8.3	14.8	6.5	7.2	6.1	-1.1	4.2	3.7	-0.5	3.1	3.4	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.8	4.2	0.4
May	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.9	13.2	1.3	7.0	5.8	-1.2	4.1	3.6	-0.5	3.1	3.6	0.5	3.2	4.0	0.8	3.8	4.2	0.4
Jun	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.5	11.0	-0.5	6.9	5.9	-1.0	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.1	3.6	0.5	3.2	4.1	0.9	3.9	4.1	0.2
Jul	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.7	10.2	-1.5	6.6	5.4	-1.2	3.9	3.5	-0.4	3.1	3.5	0.4	3.3	4.2	0.9	3.9	4.3	0.4
Aug	3.6	3.6	0.0	9.6	8.4	-1.2	6.3	5.1	-1.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.1	3.7	0.6	3.3	4.2	0.9	4.1	4.3	0.2
Sep	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.8	-1.0	5.9	4.7	-1.2	3.7	3.5	-0.2	3.2	3.8	0.6	3.4	4.1	0.7	4.2	4.4	0.2
Oct	3.6	3.6	0.0	7.9	6.9	-1.0	5.6	4.5	-1.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.4	4.1	0.7
Nov	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.5	6.7	-0.8	5.3	4.2	-1.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.5	4.2	0.7	4.3	4.5	0.2
Dec	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.4	6.7	-0.7	5.0	3.9	-1.1	3.5	3.5	0.0	3.3	3.8	0.5	3.5	4.1	0.6	4.3	4.4	0.1

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. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. 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.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Average weekly initial unemployment claims (not seasonally adjusted) for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut for January 2026 were 4,069. This is 1,625 (-28.5%) claims lower than December 2025 (5,694) and higher by just 10 claims (0.2%) than the January 2025 (4,059) level. State claims activity has been steady over the year despite the rising unemployment rate.

Chart showing Connecticut labor force, residents employed, and residents unemployed, seasonally adjusted, from 2012 to 2025.

Month	2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			2026
Month	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.
Jan	1,813.3	1,682.6	130.7	1,953.9	1,860.3	93.6	1,902.7	1,838.7	64.0	1,920.2	1,857.6	62.5	1,943.2	1,873.2	70.0	1,931.3	1,844.3	87.0
Feb	1,810.4	1,680.5	130.0	1,949.9	1,861.2	88.7	1,902.7	1,840.6	62.1	1,922.5	1,860.7	61.8	1,943.2	1,871.7	71.4
Mar	1,808.9	1,679.8	129.1	1,945.3	1,860.7	84.5	1,903.4	1,842.8	60.6	1,925.0	1,863.7	61.3	1,942.2	1,869.7	72.5
Apr	1,809.9	1,680.1	129.8	1,941.2	1,858.8	82.4	1,904.5	1,845.1	59.4	1,927.7	1,866.3	61.3	1,940.4	1,867.0	73.4
May	1,807.5	1,681.3	126.2	1,935.5	1,855.4	80.2	1,906.0	1,847.2	58.8	1,930.3	1,868.5	61.8	1,938.1	1,864.0	74.2
Jun	1,829.9	1,703.5	126.4	1,928.2	1,850.6	77.6	1,908.0	1,849.4	58.6	1,932.5	1,869.9	62.6	1,936.0	1,861.1	74.9
Jul	1,846.1	1,724.9	121.2	1,919.7	1,845.2	74.4	1,910.3	1,851.3	59.0	1,934.2	1,870.6	63.6	1,934.3	1,858.1	76.3
Aug	1,864.0	1,747.0	116.9	1,911.2	1,840.5	70.7	1,912.3	1,852.3	60.0	1,936.1	1,871.6	64.5	1,933.2	1,854.9	78.4
Sep	1,879.7	1,768.7	110.9	1,908.1	1,837.5	70.6	1,913.8	1,852.7	61.2	1,938.2	1,872.8	65.4	1,933.1	1,852.3	80.8
Oct	1,898.5	1,791.8	106.7	1,905.7	1,836.0	69.7	1,915.1	1,852.9	62.2	1,939.9	1,873.6	66.3
Nov	1,915.9	1,814.8	101.1	1,904.1	1,836.0	68.1	1,916.5	1,853.7	62.9	1,941.3	1,874.0	67.3	1,933.8	1,850.2	83.5
Dec	1,935.3	1,837.8	97.5	1,903.2	1,837.2	66.0	1,918.2	1,855.2	63.0	1,942.5	1,874.0	68.6	1,933.9	1,850.5	83.4


	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. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. 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.

Preliminary February 2026 Labor Situation release date is Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (on the new benchmark).