Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: January 23, 2023

Connecticut's jobless rate steady at 4.2% in December as payrolls post decline (-1,600)

	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."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

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)

Leisure and Hospitality +1,000, 0.7%, 151,700
Educational and Health Services +1,000, 0.3%, 343,000
Manufacturing +800, 0.5%, 161,200
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +200, 0.1%, 297,600
Financial Activities +100, 0.1%, 116,300

The five industry supersectors that decreased in jobs in December 2022 (below)

Government -1,600, -0.7%, 226,700
Professional and Business Services -1,300, -0.6%, 217,800
Construction and Mining -1,100, -1.7%, 62,700
Other Services -400, -0.7%, 60,100
Information -300, -1.0%, 30,800

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.

Labor Market Information - Connecticut, Employment Sectors & United States Nonfarm Employment

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Change	Rate %	Dec 2022	Nov 2022	Change	Rate %	Oct 2022	Sep 2022	Aug 2022
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,667,900	1,635,800	32,100	2.0%	1,667,900	1,669,500	-1,600	-0.1%	1,666,600	1,667,700	1,663,400
	Private Sector	1,440,500	1,410,500	30,000	2.1%	1,440,500	1,441,200	-700	-0.0%	1,440,900	1,440,900	1,437,800

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	62,200	61,700	500	0.8%	62,200	63,300	-1,100	-1.7%	63,200	62,800	61,700

	Manufacturing	161,200	156,400	4,800	3.1%	161,200	160,400	800	0.5%	160,900	160,300	160,500
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	297,600	291,700	5,900	2.0%	297,600	297,400	200	0.1%	298,100	299,600	298,500

	Information	30,800	30,200	600	2.0%	30,800	31,100	-300	-1.0%	31,000	30,800	30,300

	Financial Activities	116,300	116,700	-400	-0.3%	116,300	116,200	100	0.1%	117,300	117,700	118,400

	Professional and Business Services	217,100	215,300	1,800	0.8%	217,100	219,100	-2,000	-0.9%	218,200	219,400	220,000

	Educational and Health Services	343,000	334,900	8,100	2.4%	343,000	342,000	1,000	0.3%	341,300	340,100	339,200

	Leisure and Hospitality	151,700	142,600	9,100	6.4%	151,700	150,700	1,000	0.7%	150,100	149,100	148,400

	Other Services	60,100	60,500	-400	-0.7%	60,100	60,500	-400	-0.7%	60,300	60,600	60,300

	Government	226,700	225,300	1,400	0.6%	226,700	228,300	-1,600	-0.7%	225,700	226,800	225,600
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	153,743,000	149,240,000	4,503,000	3.0%	153,743,000	153,520,000	223,000	0.1%	153,264,000	153,001,000	152,732,000

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.

Labor Market Area employment estimates are made independently of Statewide estimates.

	December	November	October	September	December	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2022 P	2022 R	2022	2022	2021	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	398,900	398,600	398,600	397,300	389,500	300	0.1%	9,400	2.4%
Danbury	76,800	76,800	76,600	76,200	74,700	0	0.0%	2,100	2.8%
Hartford	574,000	573,900	572,700	570,700	562,900	100	0.0%	11,100	2.0%
New Haven	299,500	299,300	297,900	296,100	291,400	200	0.1%	8,100	2.8%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	120,800	121,900	121,300	121,500	118,300	-1,100	-0.9%	2,500	2.1%
Waterbury	66,300	66,000	66,000	65,800	65,600	300	0.5%	700	1.1%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No
Enfield	42,900	43,000	42,500	42,200	42,100	-100	-0.2%	800	1.9%
Torrington-Northwest	32,800	33,000	33,300	33,200	31,800	-200	-0.6%	1,000	3.1%
Danielson-Northeast	27,200	27,200	27,100	27,100	26,500	0	0.0%	700	2.6%

* Less than					P = Preliminary		R = Revised

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.

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).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Dec		CHG	Nov	Dec		CHG	Nov	Dec		CHG	Nov
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2022	2021	Y/Y	2022	2022	2021	Y/Y	2022	2022	2021	Y/Y	2022
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,173.28	$1,116.57	$56.71	$1,187.03	41.4	39.0	2.4	41.9	$28.34	$28.63	-$0.29	$28.33
DURABLE GOODS	1,223.31	1,223.37	-0.06	1,237.28	41.3	39.4	1.9	41.8	29.62	31.05	-1.43	29.60
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,032.51	817.12	215.39	1,045.72	41.6	37.9	3.7	42.2	24.82	21.56	3.26	24.78
CONSTRUCTION	1,351.38	1,405.39	-54.01	1,416.37	37.3	40.2	-2.9	39.3	36.23	34.96	1.27	36.04

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,179.87	1,169.26	10.61	1,180.85	33.5	34.4	-0.9	33.7	35.22	33.99	1.23	35.04
GOODS PRODUCING	1,461.96	1,482.95	-20.99	1,498.84	39.3	39.8	-0.5	40.4	37.20	37.26	-0.06	37.10
Construction	1,462.26	1,433.80	28.46	1,531.02	37.6	39.1	-1.5	39.5	38.89	36.67	2.22	38.76
Manufacturing	1,404.08	1,457.28	-53.20	1,416.08	39.1	39.6	-0.5	39.8	35.91	36.80	-0.89	35.58
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,126.87	1,111.89	14.98	1,123.53	32.4	33.4	-1.0	32.5	34.78	33.29	1.49	34.57
Trade, Transp., Utilities	887.68	960.73	-73.05	892.63	32.0	33.9	-1.9	31.8	27.74	28.34	-0.60	28.07
Financial Activities	2,037.88	1,958.02	79.86	2,027.68	37.9	38.4	-0.5	38.0	53.77	50.99	2.78	53.36
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,451.75	1,356.53	95.22	1,459.42	35.4	35.4	0.0	35.7	41.01	38.32	2.69	40.88
Education & Health Ser.	1,102.81	1,091.91	10.90	1,075.17	32.9	33.3	-0.4	32.9	33.52	32.79	0.73	32.68
Leisure & Hospitality	565.25	549.91	15.34	547.09	25.1	26.4	-1.3	24.8	22.52	20.83	1.69	22.06
Other Services	934.83	863.70	71.13	933.10	30.5	30.0	0.5	30.1	30.65	28.79	1.86	31.00

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,286.38	1,294.10	-7.72	1,276.67	33.3	34.5	-1.2	33.1	38.63	37.51	1.12	38.57
Danbury	1,212.18	1,203.09	9.09	1,211.47	35.6	35.7	-0.1	35.6	34.05	33.70	0.35	34.03
Hartford	1,214.64	1,211.00	3.64	1,219.72	33.6	34.6	-1.0	33.9	36.15	35.00	1.15	35.98
New Haven	1,105.17	1,122.34	-17.17	1,120.73	33.5	34.0	-0.5	33.9	32.99	33.01	-0.02	33.06
Norwich-New London	975.62	930.97	44.65	1,001.16	31.8	33.5	-1.7	32.4	30.68	27.79	2.89	30.90
Waterbury	957.10	907.81	49.29	972.92	32.8	31.1	1.7	33.7	29.18	29.19	-0.01	28.87

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.

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.

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).

Month	2016			2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022
Month	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.

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.

Month	2016			2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022
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.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.
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


	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.

Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, March 10, 2023 (January 2023, preliminary data)


	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)