Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: March 27, 2024

CT jobs lower by 1,200 in February; state unemployment rate ticks up one-tenth to 3.4%

	WETHERSFIELD, March 27, 2025 - Connecticut nonfarm industry employment declined 1,200 net jobs (-0.1%) in February 2025 to a level of 1,716,400 as the state’s jobless rate was up one-tenth o f one percent to 3.4% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). Statewide payroll employment is now 12,900 (0.8%) positions higher than a year ago. Also, the January 2025 preliminary job gain of 2,300 (0.1%) was lowered by 800 to a gain of 1,500 jobs (0.1%). In turn, the February 2025 preliminary Connecticut jobless rate, at 3.4%, is up one-tenth of one percent from January 2025 (3.3%) and now higher by two-tenths of one percent from a year ago (3.2%). This labor statistics report 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 - and depicts the new CT regional Labor Markets. “This is the third February in a row with a jobs decline following a January increase. February 2025 may be continuing this monthly pattern consistent with overall job growth over the course of the year,” said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “February was colder this year than in recent years which may have also contributed to the jobs decline.”

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut’s Private Sector employment also declined 1,200 positions (-0.1%) over-the-month in February 2025 to 1,481,800 but is still up by 12,400 jobs (0.8%) from the newly benchmarked February 2024 level of 1,469,400. January’s preliminary private sector gain of 1,900 jobs (-0.1%) was adjusted lower by 700 to a 1,200 increase (0.1%). The government supersector was unchanged (0.0%) in February to a level of 234,600 jobs and is now just marginally higher by 500 (0.2%) positions over the year. Connecticut’s aggregate 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.

Just two of the ten major industry supersectors increased jobs in February 2025, while five declined, and the Government, Financial Activities, and Other Services supersectors were unchanged.

The five industry supersectors that increased employment or were unchanged in February 2025 included:

Educational and Health Services +900 0.2% 372,800
Professional and Business Services +300 0.1% 223,000
Government Unchanged 0.0% 234,600
Financial Activities Unchanged 0.0% 119,300
Other Services Unchanged 0.0% 64,200

The five industry supersector that declined in jobs in February 2025 were:

Leisure & Hospitality -700 -0.4% 155,600
Manufacturing -600 -0.4% 154,600
Trade, Transportation & Utilities -600 -0.2% 299,500
Construction and Mining -400 -0.6% 62,400
Information -100 -0.3% 30,400

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted
	February	January	December	November	February	Over Month		Over Year
	2025 P	2025 R	2024	2024	2024	Change	Rate	Change	Rate

CONNECTICUT	1,716,400	1,717,600	1,716,100	1,712,600	1,703,500	-1,200	-0.1%	12,900	0.8%
Total Private	1,481,800	1,483,000	1,481,800	1,478,200	1,469,400	-1,200	-0.1%	12,400	0.8%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	61,900	62,300	63,100	63,100	62,500	-400	-0.6%	-600	-1.0%
Manufacturing	154,600	155,200	155,400	155,500	156,300	-600	-0.4%	-1,700	-1.1%
Durable Goods	121,500	121,700	122,100	122,100	122,500	-200	-0.2%	-1,000	-0.8%
Nondurable Goods	33,100	33,500	33,300	33,400	33,800	-400	-1.2%	-700	-2.1%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	299,500	300,100	299,600	298,900	299,200	-600	-0.2%	300	0.1%
Wholesale	61,200	61,600	61,300	61,100	60,900	-400	-0.6%	300	0.5%
Retail	164,400	164,900	165,400	164,200	166,200	-500	-0.3%	-1,800	-1.1%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	73,900	73,600	72,900	73,600	72,100	300	0.4%	1,800	2.5%
Information	30,400	30,500	30,500	30,200	30,700	-100	-0.3%	-300	-1.0%
Financial Activities	119,300	119,300	118,600	118,500	117,600	0	0.0%	1,700	1.4%
Finance & Insurance	99,200	99,300	98,700	98,600	98,100	-100	-0.1%	1,100	1.1%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	20,100	20,000	19,900	19,900	19,500	100	0.5%	600	3.1%
Professional & Business Services	223,000	222,700	221,400	221,600	220,900	300	0.1%	2,100	1.0%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	101,800	101,900	100,900	101,200	101,000	-100	-0.1%	800	0.8%
Management of Companies	30,800	30,900	31,000	30,900	30,900	-100	-0.3%	-100	-0.3%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	90,400	89,900	89,500	89,500	89,000	500	0.6%	1,400	1.6%
Educational & Health Services	372,800	371,900	371,700	370,800	363,300	900	0.2%	9,500	2.6%
Private Educational Services	75,000	74,700	75,100	75,300	73,400	300	0.4%	1,600	2.2%
Health Care & Social Assistance	297,800	297,200	296,600	295,500	289,900	600	0.2%	7,900	2.7%
Leisure and Hospitality	155,600	156,300	156,900	154,900	154,700	-700	-0.4%	900	0.6%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	27,600	27,800	28,300	28,000	28,600	-200	-0.7%	-1,000	-3.5%
Accommodation & Food Services	128,000	128,500	128,600	126,900	126,100	-500	-0.4%	1,900	1.5%
Other Services	64,200	64,200	64,100	64,200	63,700	0	0.0%	500	0.8%
Government**	234,600	234,600	234,300	234,400	234,100	0	0.0%	500	0.2%
UNITED STATES	159,218,000	159,067,000	158,942,000	158,619,000	157,271,000	151,000	0.1%	1,947,000	1.2%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): All five of the new major Connecticut LMAs (5 Metros formed from the CT Councils of Governments or COG regions) that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (about 93.7% of the state) tallied nonfarm payroll job declines in February 2025. The largest Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (-0.3%, 607,300) decreased by 1,700 jobs, and the second largest LMA, the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (-0.3%, 409,100), dropped 1,300 positions last month. Also declining 1,000 payrolls was the third largest New Haven LMA (-0.3%, 294,800) while the fourth largest Waterbury-Shelton LMA (-0.3%, 161,100) decreased by 500 jobs. The smallest of CT’s five major labor markets, the Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (-0.2%, 128,400), also lost 300 jobs.

LABOR MARKET AREAS (LMAs, COG-based)

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

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MS

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury

Norwich-New London-Willimantic

Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No

Putnam - Northeastern

Torrington - Northwest Hills

* Less than 0.05% ** Includes Native American tribal government employment

P = Preliminary

R = Revised

Connecticut Labor Situation

February 2025

January 2009

Note: The new 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. Thus, estimates will not exactly sum to the statewide total. Furthermore, monthly Seasonal Adjustment (SA) on these 5 new designated COG-based 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 (because the metros are new). For instance, this month, the five major CT LMA’s collectively show a much bigger OTM SA employment drop than the state itself.

Hours and Earnings: The February 2025 Private Sector average workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.3 hours (AWH). This is up four-tenths of an hour f rom the February 2024 average (1.2%, 32.9). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $39.14 in February 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.65 (4.4%) from the February 2024 estimate of $37.49. The subsequent February 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE) were estimated at $1,303.36, higher by $69.94 (5.7%) from a year ago ($1,233.42).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Feb		CHG	Jan	Feb		CHG	Jan	Feb		CHG	Jan
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,229.58	$1,186.94	$42.64	$1,233.19	39.6	38.4	1.2	39.5	$31.05	$30.91	$0.14	$31.22
DURABLE GOODS	1,294.02	1,267.42	26.60	1,305.72	39.0	38.5	0.5	39.0	33.18	32.92	0.26	33.48
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,029.18	951.14	78.04	1,014.32	41.2	38.0	3.2	40.9	24.98	25.03	-0.05	24.80
CONSTRUCTION	1,535.38	1,358.70	176.68	1,566.53	38.5	35.3	3.2	39.8	39.88	38.49	1.39	39.36

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,303.36	1,233.42	69.94	1,293.14	33.3	32.9	0.4	33.2	39.14	37.49	1.65	38.95
GOODS PRODUCING	1,553.94	1,455.30	98.64	1,558.67	38.8	37.8	1.0	39.5	40.05	38.50	1.55	39.46
Construction	1,592.83	1,436.86	155.97	1,629.61	37.7	35.2	2.5	38.2	42.25	40.82	1.43	42.66
Manufacturing	1,489.71	1,415.03	74.68	1,503.60	39.1	38.1	1.0	40.0	38.10	37.14	0.96	37.59
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,262.30	1,192.96	69.34	1,246.76	32.4	32.0	0.4	32.1	38.96	37.28	1.68	38.84
Trade, Transp., Utilities	1,003.30	947.09	56.21	994.75	31.6	30.9	0.7	31.7	31.75	30.65	1.10	31.38
Financial Activities	2,140.84	2,195.55	-54.71	2,133.79	38.1	37.9	0.2	37.0	56.19	57.93	-1.74	57.67
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,637.28	1,523.20	114.08	1,653.95	36.0	34.8	1.2	35.5	45.48	43.77	1.71	46.59
Education & Health Ser.	1,188.67	1,113.59	75.08	1,166.43	32.8	32.4	0.4	32.5	36.24	34.37	1.87	35.89
Leisure & Hospitality	607.20	612.23	-5.03	617.91	25.3	25.8	-0.5	25.8	24.00	23.73	0.27	23.95
Other Services	860.60	919.59	-58.99	846.37	28.3	30.2	-1.9	28.1	30.41	30.45	-0.04	30.12

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,361.64	1,283.75	77.89	1,327.74	33.3	32.5	0.8	32.8	40.89	39.50	1.39	40.48
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,310.95	1,280.56	30.39	1,314.77	33.4	33.4	0.0	33.6	39.25	38.34	0.91	39.13
New Haven	1,218.11	1,140.98	77.13	1,213.27	33.2	31.8	1.4	32.8	36.69	35.88	0.81	36.99
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,150.51	1,050.70	99.81	1,144.04	32.2	31.6	0.6	32.1	35.73	33.25	2.48	35.64
Waterbury-Shelton	1,135.35	1,019.82	115.53	1,163.32	33.7	32.1	1.6	33.7	33.69	31.77	1.92	34.52

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, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted - all items index) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, after rising 0.5 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.8 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in February, following a 0.4-percent increase in January. Indexes that increased over the month include medical care, used cars and trucks, household furnishings and operations, recreation, apparel, and personal care. The indexes for airline fares and new vehicles were among the few major indexes that decreased in February.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December, after increasing 0.3 percent in each of the previous 4 months. Indexes that increased in December include shelter, airline fares, usedcars and trucks, new vehicles, motor vehicle insurance, and medical care. The indexes for personal care, communication, and alcoholic beverages were among the few major indexes that decreased over the month.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary February 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was calculated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.4% (seasonally adjusted). This is up from January 2025, when it was 3.3%. CT’s unemployment rate is up two-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago (3.2%). The U.S. unemployment rate for February 2025 was 4.1%, also up one-tenth of one percent from the January 2025 rate and higher over the year from 3.9% in February 2024.

Month	2016			2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024			2025
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.		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	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.1	6.4	-0.7	4.9	4.0	-0.9	3.6	3.4	-0.2	4.4	3.7	-0.7	3.3	4.0	0.7
Feb	5.2	4.9	-0.3	4.5	4.6	0.1	4.1	4.1	0.0	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.1	6.2	-0.9	4.6	3.8	-0.8	3.5	3.6	0.1	4.5	3.9	-0.6	3.4	4.1	0.7
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	3.9	4.4	0.5	7.0	6.1	-0.9	4.4	3.6	-0.8	3.4	3.5	0.1	4.5	3.8	-0.7
Apr	5.0	5.1	0.1	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.0	4.0	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	8.3	14.9	6.6	7.1	6.1	-1.0	4.3	3.7	-0.6	3.3	3.4	0.1	4.4	3.9	-0.5
May	4.9	4.8	-0.1	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.9	3.8	-0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.8	13.3	1.5	6.9	5.8	-1.1	4.1	3.6	-0.5	3.3	3.7	0.4	4.3	4.0	-0.3
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	11.5	11.0	-0.5	6.8	5.9	-0.9	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.4	3.6	0.2	3.9	4.1	0.2
Jul	4.8	4.8	0.0	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.7	10.2	-1.5	6.5	5.4	-1.1	3.9	3.5	-0.4	3.6	3.5	-0.1	3.6	4.3	0.7
Aug	4.7	4.9	0.2	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.6	3.6	0.0	9.6	8.4	-1.2	6.2	5.1	-1.1	3.8	3.6	-0.2	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.4	4.2	0.8
Sep	4.7	5.0	0.3	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.7	3.7	0.0	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.8	-1.0	5.9	4.7	-1.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	4.0	3.8	-0.2	3.2	4.1	0.9
Oct	4.7	4.9	0.2	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	7.9	6.8	-1.1	5.6	4.5	-1.1	3.8	3.6	-0.2	4.2	3.8	-0.4	3.0	4.1	1.1
Nov	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.5	6.7	-0.8	5.3	4.1	-1.2	3.8	3.6	-0.2	4.2	3.7	-0.5	3.0	4.2	1.2
Dec	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.3	4.1	-0.2	3.7	3.9	0.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.4	6.7	-0.7	5.1	3.9	-1.2	3.7	3.5	-0.2	4.2	3.7	-0.5	3.0	4.1	1.1

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. 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

Average weekly initial unemployment claims (not seasonally adjusted) for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut for February 2025 were 2,745. This is 1,314 (-32.4%) claims lower than January 2025 (4,059) and lower by 102 claims (-3.6%) than the February 2024 (2,847) level. Claims are still lower over the year.

Month	2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024			2025
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	1,927.3	1,856.5	70.8	1,936.8	1,863.4	73.4	1,805.1	1,676.0	129.0	1,942.9	1,848.6	94.4	1,886.3	1,818.6	67.7	1,902.4	1,819.5	82.9	1,957.3	1,893.4	63.9
Feb	1,926.6	1,856.8	69.8	1,931.1	1,856.8	74.3	1,801.7	1,673.9	127.8	1,938.6	1,849.5	89.2	1,886.4	1,820.5	65.8	1,906.4	1,820.3	86.1	1,957.0	1,890.6	66.4
Mar	1,925.8	1,857.2	68.6	1,924.5	1,849.6	74.9	1,800.0	1,673.3	126.8	1,933.8	1,849.1	84.7	1,887.1	1,822.9	64.2	1,910.5	1,825.0	85.4
Apr	1,925.7	1,858.0	67.7	1,828.7	1,676.7	151.9	1,801.0	1,673.6	127.4	1,929.3	1,847.1	82.3	1,888.3	1,825.0	63.2	1,911.1	1,827.6	83.4
May	1,926.7	1,859.5	67.2	1,901.8	1,676.9	224.9	1,798.9	1,674.8	124.1	1,923.0	1,843.2	79.8	1,889.8	1,826.6	63.2	1,914.5	1,832.7	81.8
Jun	1,928.9	1,861.6	67.3	1,893.1	1,675.9	217.3	1,821.1	1,696.8	124.3	1,914.8	1,837.8	77.1	1,892.0	1,827.5	64.5	1,913.4	1,838.8	74.6
Jul	1,931.7	1,863.6	68.1	1,901.5	1,679.8	221.6	1,837.5	1,717.7	119.9	1,905.6	1,831.3	74.3	1,894.5	1,827.1	67.4	1,907.8	1,838.5	69.3
Aug	1,934.6	1,865.5	69.1	1,859.8	1,681.9	178.0	1,854.9	1,739.0	115.9	1,896.6	1,825.4	71.2	1,896.8	1,825.1	71.6	1,902.5	1,837.0	65.5
Sep	1,937.4	1,867.5	69.9	1,848.0	1,685.1	162.9	1,870.3	1,759.9	110.4	1,892.9	1,820.9	71.9	1,898.6	1,822.5	76.1	1,900.5	1,839.1	61.4
Oct	1,939.7	1,869.0	70.6	1,828.0	1,684.2	143.8	1,888.5	1,782.0	106.5	1,890.1	1,818.1	71.9	1,899.6	1,820.1	79.6	1,901.4	1,843.7	57.7
Nov	1,941.0	1,869.5	71.5	1,819.1	1,682.3	136.8	1,905.5	1,804.1	101.4	1,888.1	1,817.0	71.1	1,899.5	1,819.2	80.3	1,903.0	1,846.1	56.9
Dec	1,940.2	1,867.8	72.5	1,813.4	1,679.3	134.1	1,924.3	1,826.4	97.9	1,886.9	1,817.3	69.6	1,899.1	1,819.3	79.9	1,912.1	1,854.8	57.4


	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. 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, April 17, 2025 (March 2025, preliminary data)

State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109