Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: November 16, 2018

	Nonfarm jobs grow by 1,500 in October; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2%
	WETHERSFIELD, November 15, 2018 - Preliminary Connecticut nonfarm job estimates from the business payroll survey administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the state gained 1,500 net jobs (0.1%) in October 2018, to a level of 1,701,900, seasonally adjusted. Over the year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 22,300 jobs (1.3%). The September 2018 originally-released job decrease of 500 was revised down 900 jobs to a loss of 1,400 over the month. The number of the state's unemployed residents was estimated at 80,000, seasonally adjusted unchanged from September. As a result, Connecticut's October unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, seasonally adjusted. Resident employment estimates include the self-employed and residents working out of state and are determined separately from the nonfarm payroll job estimates above. None of the monthly changes in payroll job estimates or residential labor force statistics was considered statistically significant. "A relatively quiet month in October offset losses we experienced in September," said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. "Most employment supersectors are showing annual growth with the exception of the trade, information and government supersectors."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Private Sector grew by 1,200 (0.1%) to 1,474,100 jobs over the month in October, and added 25,700 (1.8%) seasonally-adjusted jobs over the year. The Government supersector added 300 jobs in October to a total of 227,800, with over-the-year losses now at 3,400 or -1.5%. The Government supersector includes all federal, state and local employment, including public higher education and Native American casino employment located on tribal land.

Six of the ten major industry supersectors gained employment in October, while three declined and the Construction and Mining supersector remained unchanged (0.0%, 63,500 total jobs). Financial Activities led growing sectors with 900 net new jobs (0.7%, 129,700). Professional and Business Services added 700 jobs (0.3%, 223,000) while Manufacturing (0.2%, 164,700) and Government (0.1%, 227,800) each contributed 300 new jobs. Lastly, the Educational and Health Services (0.0%, 341,900) and Information (0.3%, 30,500) supersectors each grew by100.

Once again, the Trade, Transportation & Utilities supersector led declines, shedding 400 jobs (-0.1%, 295,800). Other Services dropped 300 jobs (-0.5%, 65,500) in October while Leisure and Hospitality (-0.1%, 159,500) saw a small loss of 200.

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

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Oct 2018	Oct 2017	Change	Rate %	Oct 2018	Sep 2018	Change	Rate %	Aug 2018	Jul 2018	Jun 2018
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,701,900	1,679,600	22,300	1.3%	1,701,900	1,700,400	1,500	0.1%	1,701,800	1,698,500	1,698,000
	Private Sector	1,474,100	1,448,400	25,700	1.8%	1,474,100	1,472,900	1,200	0.1%	1,474,700	1,471,000	1,470,000

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	62,900	59,000	3,900	6.6%	62,900	62,900	0	0.0%	62,400	61,500	61,000

	Manufacturing	164,700	160,400	4,300	2.7%	164,700	164,400	300	0.2%	164,000	163,600	163,700
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	295,800	297,400	-1,600	-0.5%	295,800	296,200	-400	-0.1%	297,100	298,100	299,300

	Information	30,500	31,100	-600	-1.9%	30,500	30,400	100	0.3%	30,700	30,800	30,900

	Financial Activities	129,700	127,600	2,100	1.6%	129,700	128,800	900	0.7%	127,700	127,100	127,400

	Professional and Business Services	223,000	217,700	5,300	2.4%	223,000	222,300	700	0.3%	222,800	222,300	222,700

	Educational and Health Services	341,900	335,400	6,500	1.9%	341,900	341,800	100	0.0%	342,800	341,400	340,800

	Leisure and Hospitality	159,500	154,900	4,600	3.0%	159,500	159,700	-200	-0.1%	161,100	160,600	158,300

	Other Services	65,500	64,300	1,200	1.9%	65,500	65,800	-300	-0.5%	65,500	65,000	65,300

	Government	227,800	231,200	-3,400	-1.5%	227,800	227,500	300	0.1%	227,100	227,500	228,000
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	149,750,000	147,234,000	2,516,000	1.7%	149,750,000	149,500,000	250,000	0.2%	149,382,000	149,096,000	148,931,000

Connecticut has now recovered 90.4% (107,700 jobs) of the 119,100 seasonally adjusted jobs lost in the "Great Recession" (3/08-2/10). The job recovery is into its 104th month and the state needs an additional 11,400 net new jobs to reach an overall nonfarm employment expansion. The state's Private Sector continues its expansion from the recession and is at 114.2% (127,600) of the private sector jobs lost in that same employment downturn.

Connecticut's Recessionary Job Loss and Recovery March 2008 - October 2018

Connecticut's Recessionary Job Loss and Recovery March 2008 - October 2018

March
2008 February
2010 October
2018 Jobs Lost Recovered

Jobs Percent

CT Nonfarm Employment 1,713.3 1,594.2 1,701.9 -119.1 107.7 90.4%

Total Private Sector 1,458.2 1,346.5 1,474.1 -111.7 127.6 114.2%

* March 2008 was employment peak. February 2010 was employment trough. Last Updated: November 15, 2018

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the six LMAs seasonally adjusted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics saw job increases in October 2018 while two saw small declines. The New Haven LMA posted 1,300 net new positions (0.5%, 287,300). The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA added 800 jobs (0.1%, 582,500), while the Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA saw an increase of 200 (0.2%, 132,600). The Danbury LMA (0.1%, 79,200) added 100 jobs to the total. The Waterbury LMA shed 300 jobs (-0.4%, 66,800) while the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA (-0.0%, 408,900) saw a small loss of 100 jobs.

	October	September	August	July	October	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2018 P	2018 R	2018	2018	2017	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	408,900	409,000	409,000	407,200	404,700	-100	0.0%	4,200	1.0%
Danbury	79,200	79,100	79,200	79,100	78,000	100	0.1%	1,200	1.5%
Hartford	582,500	581,700	580,600	579,800	574,800	800	0.1%	7,700	1.3%
New Haven	287,300	286,000	285,700	286,200	282,600	1,300	0.5%	4,700	1.7%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	132,600	132,400	132,100	132,000	130,900	200	0.2%	1,700	1.3%
Waterbury	66,800	67,100	67,200	66,500	67,000	-300	-0.4%	-200	-0.3%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non
Enfield	45,000	45,200	44,800	44,900	44,900	-200	-0.4%	100	0.2%
Torrington-Northwest	33,000	33,200	33,500	33,700	32,600	-200	-0.6%	400	1.2%
Danielson-Northeast	27,000	26,900	26,800	26,800	27,200	100	0.4%	-200	-0.7%

* 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 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 34.3 hours in October 2018, up two-tenths of an hour from the same month a year ago (0.6%). Average hourly earnings at $32.34, not seasonally adjusted, were up $0.87 (2.8%) from the October 2017 estimate ($31.47). The resultant average Private Sector weekly pay amounted to $1,109.26, up $36.13 from a year ago (3.4%).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Oct		CHG	Sep	Oct		CHG	Sep	Oct		CHG	Sep
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,143.81	$1,038.33	$105.48	$1,101.98	42.6	41.7	0.9	41.6	$26.85	$24.90	$1.95	$26.49
DURABLE GOODS	1,218.44	1,073.99	144.45	1,191.01	43.5	42.2	1.3	42.1	28.01	25.45	2.56	28.29
NON-DUR. GOODS	922.89	910.12	12.77	826.06	39.9	39.9	0.0	40.1	23.13	22.81	0.32	20.60
CONSTRUCTION	1,196.97	1,177.96	19.01	1,205.05	39.4	39.2	0.2	38.5	30.38	30.05	0.33	31.30

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,109.26	1,073.13	36.14	1,120.58	34.3	34.1	0.2	34.3	32.34	31.47	0.87	32.67
GOODS PRODUCING	1,387.94	1,260.05	127.89	1,348.38	40.5	39.5	1.0	39.3	34.27	31.90	2.37	34.31
Construction	1,300.43	1,186.88	113.55	1,205.65	38.9	37.5	1.4	37.2	33.43	31.65	1.78	32.41
Manufacturing	1,397.40	1,291.49	105.91	1,426.54	41.1	40.6	0.5	40.7	34.00	31.81	2.19	35.05
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,055.89	1,038.68	17.21	1,079.15	33.1	33.1	0.0	33.4	31.90	31.38	0.52	32.31
Trade, Transp., Utilities	898.77	858.33	40.44	935.37	33.3	32.5	0.8	34.2	26.99	26.41	0.58	27.35
Financial Activities	1,731.18	1,830.46	-99.28	1,867.38	36.6	38.0	-1.4	37.4	47.30	48.17	-0.87	49.93
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,255.94	1,281.20	-25.25	1,270.17	34.4	35.5	-1.1	34.6	36.51	36.09	0.42	36.71
Education & Health Ser.	971.54	930.85	40.68	975.47	32.8	32.4	0.4	32.8	29.62	28.73	0.89	29.74
Leisure & Hospitality	484.96	446.00	38.96	480.25	26.2	25.9	0.3	26.2	18.51	17.22	1.29	18.33
Other Services	824.02	821.85	2.18	805.97	33.2	32.6	0.6	32.2	24.82	25.21	-0.39	25.03

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,193.24	1,155.50	37.73	1,215.13	34.2	33.6	0.6	34.2	34.89	34.39	0.50	35.53
Danbury	1,000.40	929.38	71.03	1,014.89	34.7	33.6	1.1	34.9	28.83	27.66	1.17	29.08
Hartford	1,153.27	1,120.99	32.28	1,186.73	34.8	34.9	-0.1	35.1	33.14	32.12	1.02	33.81
New Haven	1,071.12	996.54	74.58	1,054.14	33.8	32.9	0.9	33.7	31.69	30.29	1.40	31.28
Norwich-New London	844.46	828.39	16.07	854.31	30.3	31.8	-1.5	30.5	27.87	26.05	1.82	28.01
Waterbury	941.88	870.39	71.49	960.80	34.3	34.2	0.1	34.9	27.46	25.45	2.01	27.53

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.

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.1 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

An increase in the gasoline index was responsible for over one-third of the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index; advances in the indexes for shelter, used cars and trucks, and electricity also contributed. The increases in the gasoline and electricity indexes led to a 2.4-percent rise in the energy index. The food index, in contrast, declined slightly in October.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in October following a 0.1-percent increase in September. Along with the indexes for shelter and for used cars and trucks, the indexes for medical care, household furnishings and operations, motor vehicle insurance, and tobacco all increased in October. The indexes for communication, new vehicles, and recreation all declined.

The all items index rose 2.5 percent for the 12 months ending October, a larger increase than the 2.3-percent increase for the 12 months ending September. The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.1 percent for the 12 months ending October. The energy index increased 8.9 percent, while the food index increased more modestly, advancing 1.2 percent over the last 12 months.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The October 2018 unemployment rate for Connecticut is estimated at 4.2% (seasonally adjusted), unchanged from September 2018 and down three-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.5%. The US jobless rate in October 2018 was 3.7%, unchanged from September 2018.

Month	2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
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	9.2	9.1	-0.1	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.2	8.0	-0.2	7.2	6.6	-0.6	6.1	5.7	-0.4	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.9	4.8	-0.1	4.5	4.1	-0.4
Feb	9.2	9.0	-0.2	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.1	7.7	-0.4	7.0	6.7	-0.3	6.0	5.5	-0.5	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.6	4.1	-0.5
Mar	9.2	9.0	-0.2	8.3	8.2	-0.1	8.1	7.5	-0.6	6.9	6.7	-0.2	5.9	5.5	-0.4	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.9	4.5	-0.4	4.5	4.1	-0.4
Apr	9.1	9.1	0.0	8.3	8.2	-0.1	8.0	7.6	-0.4	6.8	6.3	-0.5	5.8	5.4	-0.4	5.3	5.0	-0.3	4.8	4.4	-0.4	4.5	3.9	-0.6
May	9.0	9.0	0.0	8.4	8.2	-0.2	7.9	7.5	-0.4	6.7	6.3	-0.4	5.7	5.5	-0.2	5.3	4.7	-0.6	4.7	4.3	-0.4	4.5	3.8	-0.7
Jun	8.9	9.1	0.2	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.9	7.5	-0.4	6.6	6.1	-0.5	5.7	5.3	-0.4	5.2	4.9	-0.3	4.7	4.3	-0.4	4.4	4.0	-0.4
Jul	8.8	9.0	0.2	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.8	7.3	-0.5	6.5	6.2	-0.3	5.6	5.2	-0.4	5.1	4.9	-0.2	4.6	4.3	-0.3	4.4	3.9	-0.5
Aug	8.7	9.0	0.3	8.5	8.1	-0.4	7.8	7.2	-0.6	6.5	6.2	-0.3	5.6	5.1	-0.5	5.0	4.9	-0.1	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.3	3.9	-0.4
Sep	8.6	9.0	0.4	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.7	7.2	-0.5	6.4	5.9	-0.5	5.6	5.0	-0.6	5.0	5.0	0.0	4.5	4.2	-0.3	4.2	3.7	-0.5
Oct	8.5	8.8	0.3	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.5	7.2	-0.3	6.3	5.7	-0.6	5.6	5.0	-0.6	4.9	4.9	0.0	4.5	4.1	-0.4	4.2	3.7	-0.5
Nov	8.4	8.6	0.2	8.3	7.7	-0.6	7.4	6.9	-0.5	6.3	5.8	-0.5	5.6	5.0	-0.6	4.9	4.6	-0.3	4.5	4.1	-0.4
Dec	8.3	8.5	0.2	8.2	7.9	-0.3	7.3	6.7	-0.6	6.2	5.6	-0.6	5.6	5.0	-0.6	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.1	-0.4

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.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics model (LAUS - a statistical model using the CPS – Current Population Survey residential data), the number of Connecticut unemployed residents, seasonally adjusted, was unchanged from September at 80,000. Over the year, the number of the state's jobless residents declined by 6,100 (-7.1%). The state's labor force increased for the fourth month in a row by 5,800 (0.3%) over the month, but is down over the year (-2,700, -0.1%).

October 2018 seasonally-adjusted average weekly initial unemployment claims for first-time filers in Connecticut grew by 50 claimants (1.7%) to 3,064 from September 2018, but were lower by 459 claims (-13.0%) from the October 2017 level of 3,523.

Month	2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
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	1,904.1	1,748.6	156.9	1,866.1	1,716.9	152.2	1,873.2	1,733.0	134.5	1,910.5	1,792.1	116.4	1,890.4	1,783.6	104.2	1,923.0	1,826.6	93.9	1,909.9	1,823.2	86.8
Feb	1,901.1	1,747.1	156.6	1,862.4	1,713.9	151.0	1,876.9	1,738.6	132.3	1,909.5	1,794.1	114.5	1,892.5	1,786.1	103.3	1,925.1	1,829.1	94.0	1,908.2	1,821.2	86.9
Mar	1,897.8	1,744.5	157.0	1,860.3	1,711.4	149.9	1,880.5	1,744.6	130.2	1,907.2	1,794.9	112.6	1,894.9	1,789.1	102.2	1,925.8	1,831.1	93.7	1,904.7	1,818.4	86.3
Apr	1,894.3	1,740.8	158.0	1,860.3	1,710.4	148.9	1,883.9	1,750.3	128.3	1,903.9	1,794.6	110.7	1,897.6	1,792.6	101.1	1,925.0	1,832.2	92.7	1,901.0	1,815.2	85.8
May	1,890.8	1,736.3	159.2	1,861.7	1,711.5	147.9	1,887.0	1,755.6	126.4	1,899.8	1,793.2	108.8	1,900.6	1,796.4	100.1	1,922.9	1,832.3	91.2	1,898.5	1,813.6	84.9
Jun	1,887.7	1,731.6	160.2	1,863.4	1,713.8	147.0	1,890.5	1,760.5	124.9	1,895.3	1,791.0	107.1	1,903.9	1,800.6	99.0	1,919.9	1,831.6	89.6	1,896.5	1,812.6	83.9
Jul	1,885.2	1,727.5	160.4	1,864.6	1,716.5	146.0	1,894.4	1,765.6	123.7	1,891.2	1,788.2	105.8	1,906.9	1,804.9	97.6	1,917.0	1,830.3	88.2	1,898.5	1,815.8	82.8
Aug	1,883.2	1,724.8	159.9	1,865.0	1,718.7	144.6	1,898.6	1,770.7	122.8	1,888.1	1,785.4	105.1	1,909.7	1,809.3	96.1	1,914.3	1,828.8	87.0	1,899.2	1,818.4	80.9
Sep	1,881.3	1,723.3	158.7	1,865.0	1,720.3	142.9	1,902.7	1,775.8	121.9	1,886.3	1,783.0	104.9	1,912.2	1,813.6	94.8	1,912.8	1,827.3	86.4	1,903.5	1,823.4	80.0
Oct	1,878.8	1,722.5	157.3	1,865.5	1,722.2	140.8	1,906.2	1,780.7	120.9	1,885.9	1,781.4	104.9	1,914.6	1,817.4	93.9	1,912.0	1,826.4	86.1	1,909.3	1,829.3	80.0
Nov	1,875.2	1,721.5	155.5	1,867.1	1,724.7	138.8	1,908.7	1,785.3	119.6	1,886.8	1,780.9	105.0	1,917.2	1,820.7	93.5	1,912.3	1,826.0	86.2
Dec	1,870.7	1,719.6	153.8	1,869.7	1,728.3	136.7	1,910.2	1,789.1	118.1	1,888.5	1,781.8	104.8	1,920.2	1,823.7	93.5	1,912.6	1,826.0	86.4


	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, December 20, 2018 (November 2018 data)


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