Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Connecticut's jobless rate steady at 4.5%; nonfarm payrolls see robust gains, 4,900

	WETHERSFIELD, April 18, 2024 - March 2024 Connecticut industry payroll jobs increased 4,900 (0.3%) to a level of 1,709,100, while the state's unemployment rate held steady at 4.5% (preliminary data, seasonally adjusted). Over the year, statewide payroll employment is 18,900 (1.1%) positions higher than March 2023 levels (1,690,200). With the addition of the solid upward revisions to the preliminary February 2024 payroll estimates of 1,700 to 2,600 (0.2%), the state has now recovered 103.6% (301,600) of the 291,100 nonagricultural jobs lost during the March-April 2020 COVID lockdown. The March 2024 unemployment rate was unchanged over-the-month but is one and one-tenth percentage points higher than a year ago (3.4%). This release includes labor statistics from two different monthly surveys (household and establishment) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in cooperation with the States. â€œConnecticut added 13,300 jobs in the first three months of 2024, solid growth by any standard,â€ said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. â€œJob increases in leisure and hospitality were boosted by increased interest in March Madness and St. Patrick's Day falling on a weekend while March retail trade benefited from an early Easter. We do not expect job growth to continue at this pace throughout the year, but 2024 is off to a great start.â€

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment added 4,400 (0.3%) positions in March 2024 to 1,475,600 and is higher by 16,400 jobs (1.1%) from the March 2023 level (1,459,200). The state's Private Sector has fully recovered (105.3%) from the April 2020 COVID employment lockdown period. February's preliminary Private Sector job gain of 1,100 (0.1%) was revised up by 1,800 jobs to a 2,900 (0.2%) job increase. The Government supersector also increased by 500 jobs (0.2%) in March to a level of 233,500 jobs and is higher by 2,500 (1.1%) positions from year-ago levels. The public sector is now 84.4% recovered from the overall COVID April 2020 employment bottom. The initial February 2024 government drop of 200 was revised lower by 100 to a 300 (-0.1%) loss. Connecticut's total Government supersector includes all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations.

Eight of the ten major industry supersectors increased jobs in March 2024, while just one declined, and the Information supersector was unchanged.

Leisure and Hospitality +2,100, 1.4%, 156,700
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +1,300, 0.4%, 298,500
Educational and Health Services +1,000, 0.3%, 362,200
Construction and Mining +700, 1.1%, 63,900
Manufacturing +500, 0.3%, 159,100
Government +500, 0.2%, 233,500
Other Services +200, 0.3%, 65,700
Financial Activities +200, 0.2%, 118,700
Information unchanged, 0.0%, 30,000

The single industry supersector that lost jobs in March 2024 was:

Professional and Business Services -1,600, -0.7%, 220,800

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted
	March	February	January	December	March	Over Month		Over Year
	2024 P	2024 R	2024	2023	2023	Change	Rate	Change	Rate

CONNECTICUT	1,709,100	1,704,200	1,701,600	1,695,800	1,690,200	4,900	0.3%	18,900	1.1%
Total Private	1,475,600	1,471,200	1,468,300	1,462,500	1,459,200	4,400	0.3%	16,400	1.1%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	63,400	62,700	61,700	61,500	62,500	700	1.1%	900	1.4%
Manufacturing	159,100	158,600	158,400	157,900	158,700	500	0.3%	400	0.3%
Durable Goods	124,700	124,300	124,200	123,800	124,100	400	0.3%	600	0.5%
Nondurable Goods	34,400	34,300	34,200	34,100	34,600	100	0.3%	-200	-0.6%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	298,500	297,200	297,600	299,200	297,800	1,300	0.4%	700	0.2%
Wholesale	62,100	61,200	61,400	61,200	60,900	900	1.5%	1,200	2.0%
Retail	165,300	164,500	164,600	165,500	168,000	800	0.5%	-2,700	-1.6%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	71,100	71,500	71,600	72,500	68,900	-400	-0.6%	2,200	3.2%
Information	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,200	31,600	0	0.0%	-1,600	-5.1%
Financial Activities	118,700	118,500	118,100	117,500	118,400	200	0.2%	300	0.3%
Finance & Insurance	98,900	98,700	98,500	97,800	98,700	200	0.2%	200	0.2%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	19,800	19,800	19,600	19,700	19,700	0	0.0%	100	0.5%
Professional & Business Services	220,800	222,400	224,000	220,900	223,200	-1,600	-0.7%	-2,400	-1.1%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	100,300	100,500	100,700	100,300	100,400	-200	-0.2%	-100	-0.1%
Management of Companies	31,600	31,700	31,800	31,600	31,600	-100	-0.3%	0	0.0%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	88,900	90,200	91,500	89,000	91,200	-1,300	-1.4%	-2,300	-2.5%
Educational & Health Services	362,200	361,200	360,500	356,500	350,800	1,000	0.3%	11,400	3.2%
Educational Services	72,500	72,900	73,500	72,400	69,700	-400	-0.5%	2,800	4.0%
Health Care & Social Assistance	289,700	288,300	287,000	284,100	281,100	1,400	0.5%	8,600	3.1%
Leisure and Hospitality	156,700	154,600	153,700	153,300	153,400	2,100	1.4%	3,300	2.2%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	29,300	28,400	28,000	28,300	27,700	900	3.2%	1,600	5.8%
Accommodation & Food Services	127,400	126,200	125,700	125,000	125,700	1,200	1.0%	1,700	1.4%
Other Services	65,700	65,500	63,800	65,000	62,300	200	0.3%	3,400	5.5%
Government**	233,500	233,000	233,300	233,300	231,000	500	0.2%	2,500	1.1%
UNITED STATES	158,133,000	157,830,000	157,560,000	157,304,000	155,206,000	303,000	0.2%	2,927,000	1.9%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): All six major Connecticut LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (92% of the coverage of the state) delivered nonfarm industry employment gains in March 2024. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA (0.4%, 410,200) led all regions with an 1,800-position gain. The New Haven LMA (0.4%, 305,700) was next, posting a 1,100-job increase. The largest LMA, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.1%, 584,000) added 700 jobs while the Danbury LMA (0.8%, 78,300) increased 600 jobs (leading in monthly percentage gains). The Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (0.3%, 127,900) chipped in 400 jobs and the Waterbury LMA (0.3%, 66,900) gained 200.

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

	March	February	January	December	March	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2024 P	2024 R	2024	2023	2023	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	410,200	408,400	407,600	406,900	406,800	1,800	0.4%	3,400	0.8%
Danbury	78,300	77,700	77,700	78,000	77,600	600	0.8%	700	0.9%
Hartford	584,000	583,300	582,100	580,100	579,000	700	0.1%	5,000	0.9%
New Haven	305,700	304,600	304,300	302,600	299,400	1,100	0.4%	6,300	2.1%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	127,900	127,500	127,400	126,500	125,500	400	0.3%	2,400	1.9%
Waterbury	66,900	66,700	66,800	66,700	66,700	200	0.3%	200	0.3%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No
Enfield	42,600	42,500	42,800	43,300	42,200	100	0.2%	400	0.9%
Torrington-Northwest	32,300	32,300	32,200	32,800	32,000	0	0.0%	300	0.9%
Danielson-Northeast	27,000	27,000	27,100	27,200	27,000	0	0.0%	0	0.0%

* 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 March 2024 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.4 hours. This is up five-tenths of an hour from the March 2023 average of 32.9 hours (1.5%) â€“ a large annual advance. Average hourly earnings at $37.39 in March 2024, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.64 (4.6%) from the March 2023 estimate of $35.75. The March 2024 Private Sector weekly wage averaged $1,248.83, higher by $72.65 (6.2%) from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Mar		CHG	Feb	Mar		CHG	Feb	Mar		CHG	Feb
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2024	2023	Y/Y	2023	2024	2023	Y/Y	2023	2024	2023	Y/Y	2023
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,216.73	$1,138.00	$78.73	$1,186.18	38.7	40.0	-1.3	38.4	$31.44	$28.45	$2.99	$30.89
DURABLE GOODS	1,314.77	1,221.25	93.52	1,267.42	39.2	40.6	-1.4	38.5	33.54	30.08	3.46	32.92
NON-DUR. GOODS	943.98	898.14	45.84	951.14	37.4	38.3	-0.9	38.0	25.24	23.45	1.79	25.03
CONSTRUCTION	1,514.38	1,480.29	34.09	1,358.70	38.9	39.9	-1.0	35.3	38.93	37.10	1.83	38.49

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,248.83	1,176.18	72.65	1,233.42	33.4	32.9	0.5	32.9	37.39	35.75	1.64	37.49
GOODS PRODUCING	1,511.65	1,487.74	23.91	1,455.30	38.9	39.4	-0.5	37.8	38.86	37.76	1.10	38.50
Construction	1,542.00	1,501.90	40.10	1,436.86	37.4	38.1	-0.7	35.2	41.23	39.42	1.81	40.82
Manufacturing	1,451.64	1,422.18	29.46	1,415.03	38.7	39.2	-0.5	38.1	37.51	36.28	1.23	37.14
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,201.39	1,122.86	78.53	1,192.96	32.4	31.8	0.6	32.0	37.08	35.31	1.77	37.28
Trade, Transp., Utilities	949.73	864.76	84.97	947.09	31.5	30.6	0.9	30.9	30.15	28.26	1.89	30.65
Financial Activities	2,173.88	2,006.37	167.51	2,195.55	37.8	37.1	0.7	37.9	57.51	54.08	3.43	57.93
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,559.87	1,487.86	72.01	1,523.20	35.5	35.4	0.1	34.8	43.94	42.03	1.91	43.77
Education & Health Ser.	1,120.63	1,087.28	33.35	1,113.59	32.7	32.7	0.0	32.4	34.27	33.25	1.02	34.37
Leisure & Hospitality	610.95	531.20	79.75	612.23	26.3	24.3	2.0	25.8	23.23	21.86	1.37	23.73
Other Services	936.41	915.22	21.19	919.59	30.1	29.4	0.7	30.2	31.11	31.13	-0.02	30.45

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,301.85	1,284.73	17.12	1,283.75	33.0	32.5	0.5	32.5	39.45	39.53	-0.08	39.50
Danbury	1,165.07	1,219.68	-54.61	1,148.15	34.5	36.0	-1.5	34.1	33.77	33.88	-0.11	33.67
Hartford	1,276.80	1,225.43	51.37	1,280.56	33.6	33.5	0.1	33.4	38.00	36.58	1.42	38.34
New Haven	1,154.41	1,078.13	76.28	1,140.98	32.4	32.9	-0.5	31.8	35.63	32.77	2.86	35.88
Norwich-New London	1,082.81	1,002.39	80.42	1,050.70	32.4	32.2	0.2	31.6	33.42	31.13	2.29	33.25
Waterbury	981.55	931.13	50.42	934.76	33.5	32.5	1.0	32.3	29.30	28.65	0.65	28.94

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) increased 0.4 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose in March, as did the index for gasoline. Combined, these two indexes contributed over half of the monthly increase in the index for all items. The energy index rose 1.1 percent over the month. The food index rose 0.1 percent in March. The food at home index was unchanged, while the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in March, as it did in each of the 2 preceding months. Indexes which increased in March include shelter, motor vehicle insurance, medical care, apparel, and personal care. The indexes for used cars and trucks, recreation, and new vehicles were among those that decreased over the month.

The all items index rose 3.5 percent for the 12 months ending March, a larger increase than the 3.2-percent increase for the 12 months ending February. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.8 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index increased 2.1 percent for the 12 months ending March, the first 12-month increase in that index since the period ending February 2023. The food index increased 2.2 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary March 2024 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 4.5% (seasonally adjusted). This is unchanged over the month but is higher by one and one-tenth percentage point compared to the March 2023 level of 3.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate for March 2024 was 3.8%, lower by one-tenth of a percentage point from the February 2024 rate of 3.9% but is higher over the year from the U.S. jobless rate of 3.5% in March 2023.

Month	2015			2016			2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
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	6.0	5.7	-0.3	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
Feb	5.9	5.5	-0.4	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
Mar	5.8	5.4	-0.4	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	5.8	5.4	-0.4	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
May	5.7	5.6	-0.1	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
Jun	5.6	5.3	-0.3	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
Jul	5.6	5.2	-0.4	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
Aug	5.5	5.1	-0.4	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
Sep	5.4	5.0	-0.4	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
Oct	5.4	5.0	-0.4	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
Nov	5.4	5.1	-0.3	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
Dec	5.3	5.0	-0.3	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

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 in March 2024 were 2,525. This is 322 (-11.3%, 2,847) claims lower than February 2024, and lower by 373 (-12.9%, 2,898) claims than March 2023.

Month	2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
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	1,908.3	1,828.3	80.0	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
Feb	1,910.7	1,831.8	78.9	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
Mar	1,914.5	1,836.7	77.7	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	1,918.6	1,842.2	76.5	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
May	1,922.2	1,846.9	75.3	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
Jun	1,924.9	1,850.7	74.2	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
Jul	1,926.8	1,853.6	73.2	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
Aug	1,928.5	1,856.0	72.5	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
Sep	1,930.0	1,857.9	72.1	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
Oct	1,931.4	1,859.4	72.0	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
Nov	1,932.6	1,860.8	71.9	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
Dec	1,933.4	1,861.9	71.5	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


	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, May 16, 2024 (April 2024, preliminary data)


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