Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: April 17, 2024

CT March unemployment rate rises two-tenths to 3.6% while state payrolls decline 4,500

	WETHERSFIELD, April 17, 2025 - Connecticut industry payrolls fell 4,500 jobs (-0.3%) in March 2025 to a level of 1,711,400 as the state’s jobless rate was up two-tenths of one percent to 3.6% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). Nonfarm industry employment in the state is 6,000 (0.4%) positions higher than a year ago. The February 2025 preliminary job loss of 1,200 (-0.1%) was lowered by 500 to a 1,700 jobs decline (-0.1%). The March 2025 preliminary Connecticut jobless rate of 3.4%, is up two-tenths of one percent from February 2025 (3.4%) and higher by four-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. “The unemployment rate remains low by historic standards despite recent small increases,” said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “Private sector jobs reached an all-time high in January. While they have come down over the past two months, they remain more than 10,000 jobs above their pre-pandemic high”

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut’s Private Sector employment was lower by 4,800 positions (-0.3%) in March 2025 to 1,476,600 but is still up 6,100 jobs (0.4%) from the March 2024 level of 1,470,500. February’s preliminary private sector decline of 1,200 jobs (-0.1%) was adjusted lower by 400 to a 1,600 decrease (-0.1%). The combined government supersector was up 300 positions (0.1%) in March to a level of 234,800 jobs but is now marginally lower by 100 (-0.04%) 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.

Three of the ten major industry supersectors added jobs in March 2025, while seven declined.

The three industry supersectors that increased employment or were unchanged in March 2025 included:

Government +300 0.1% 234,800
Financial Activities +200 0.2% 119,700
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +100 0.03% 300,000

The seven industry supersector that declined in jobs in March 2025 were:

Educational and Health Services -2,100 -0.6% 370,200
Professional and Business Services -1,800 -0.8% 220,000
Manufacturing -500 -0.3% 154,200
Other Services -300 -0.5% 63,900
Leisure & Hospitality -200 -0.1% 155,700
Information -100 -0.3% 30,300
Construction and Mining -100 -0.1% 62,600

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

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

CONNECTICUT	1,711,400	1,715,900	1,717,600	1,716,100	1,705,400	-4,500	-0.3%	6,000	0.4%
Total Private	1,476,600	1,481,400	1,483,000	1,481,800	1,470,500	-4,800	-0.3%	6,100	0.4%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	62,100	62,200	62,300	63,100	62,800	-100	-0.2%	-700	-1.1%
Manufacturing	154,200	154,700	155,200	155,400	156,100	-500	-0.3%	-1,900	-1.2%
Durable Goods	121,100	121,600	121,700	122,100	122,400	-500	-0.4%	-1,300	-1.1%
Nondurable Goods	33,100	33,100	33,500	33,300	33,700	0	0.0%	-600	-1.8%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	300,000	299,900	300,100	299,600	299,300	100	0.0%	700	0.2%
Wholesale	61,400	61,300	61,600	61,300	61,200	100	0.2%	200	0.3%
Retail	165,200	164,800	164,900	165,400	166,300	400	0.2%	-1,100	-0.7%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	73,400	73,800	73,600	72,900	71,800	-400	-0.5%	1,600	2.2%
Information	30,300	30,400	30,500	30,500	30,800	-100	-0.3%	-500	-1.6%
Financial Activities	119,700	119,500	119,300	118,600	117,600	200	0.2%	2,100	1.8%
Finance & Insurance	99,700	99,400	99,300	98,700	98,100	300	0.3%	1,600	1.6%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	20,000	20,100	20,000	19,900	19,500	-100	-0.5%	500	2.6%
Professional & Business Services	220,000	221,800	222,700	221,400	220,200	-1,800	-0.8%	-200	-0.1%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	101,500	101,700	101,900	100,900	100,900	-200	-0.2%	600	0.6%
Management of Companies	30,900	30,800	30,900	31,000	30,900	100	0.3%	0	0.0%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	87,600	89,300	89,900	89,500	88,400	-1,700	-1.9%	-800	-0.9%
Educational & Health Services	370,200	372,300	371,900	371,700	364,400	-2,100	-0.6%	5,800	1.6%
Private Educational Services	72,700	74,700	74,700	75,100	73,500	-2,000	-2.7%	-800	-1.1%
Health Care & Social Assistance	297,500	297,600	297,200	296,600	290,900	-100	0.0%	6,600	2.3%
Leisure and Hospitality	155,700	155,900	156,300	156,900	155,000	-200	-0.1%	700	0.5%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	27,700	27,600	27,800	28,300	28,500	100	0.4%	-800	-2.8%
Accommodation & Food Services	128,000	128,300	128,500	128,600	126,500	-300	-0.2%	1,500	1.2%
Other Services	63,900	64,200	64,200	64,100	63,800	-300	-0.5%	100	0.2%
Government**	234,800	234,500	234,600	234,300	234,900	300	0.1%	-100	0.0%
UNITED STATES	159,398,000	159,170,000	159,053,000	158,942,000	157,517,000	228,000	0.1%	1,881,000	1.2%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Three 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) gained nonfarm payroll jobs while two declined in March 2025. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (0.2%, 409,600) increased 700 jobs, and the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.1%, 607,600) added 400 positions. The Waterbury-Shelton LMA (0.1%, 161,400) was also up 100 on payrolls. Conversely, the New Haven LMA (-0.7%, 294,800) fell a large 2,100 positions, and the Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (-0.2%, 128,300) lost 200 jobs.

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

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)	March	February	January	December	March	Over Month		Over Year
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MSAs)	2025 P	2025 R	2025	2024	2024	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	409,600	408,900	410,400	410,500	407,500	700	0.2%	2,100	0.5%
Hartford	607,600	607,200	609,000	610,600	607,900	400	0.1%	-300	0.0%
New Haven	292,700	294,800	295,800	295,700	293,800	-2,100	-0.7%	-1,100	-0.4%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	128,300	128,500	128,700	128,300	127,000	-200	-0.2%	1,300	1.0%
Waterbury - Shelton	161,400	161,300	161,600	162,100	160,800	100	0.1%	600	0.4%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non-Classified Areas, 2 Micropolitan Statistical Areas - Micros, State estimated - not BLS)
Putnam - Northeastern	28,100	28,000	28,200	28,800	28,400	100	0.4%	-300	-1.1%
Torrington - Northwest Hills	37,000	37,100	37,400	38,100	36,300	-100	-0.3%	700	1.9%

* Less than					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							March 2025

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 March 2025 Private Sector average workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.4 hours (AWH). This is up one-tenth of an hour from the March 2024 average (0.3%, 33.3). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $39.08 in March 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.64 (4.4%) from the March 2024 estimate of $37.44. The resultant March 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE) were estimated at $1,305.27, higher by $58.52 (4.7%) from a year ago ($1,246.75).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Mar		CHG	Feb	Mar		CHG	Feb	Mar		CHG	Feb
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,215.89	$1,212.96	$2.93	$1,225.69	39.8	38.3	1.5	39.5	$30.55	$31.67	-$1.12	$31.03
DURABLE GOODS	1,283.02	1,307.29	-24.27	1,284.07	39.2	38.7	0.5	38.7	32.73	33.78	-1.05	33.18
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,018.31	955.20	63.12	1,052.52	41.7	37.4	4.3	42.0	24.42	25.54	-1.12	25.06
CONSTRUCTION	1,586.03	1,476.68	109.35	1,556.56	39.2	38.0	1.2	38.5	40.46	38.86	1.60	40.43

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,305.27	1,246.75	58.52	1,312.29	33.4	33.3	0.1	33.4	39.08	37.44	1.64	39.29
GOODS PRODUCING	1,543.66	1,494.59	49.07	1,546.84	38.2	38.6	-0.4	38.7	40.41	38.72	1.69	39.97
Construction	1,626.91	1,527.04	99.87	1,583.40	37.8	37.1	0.7	37.7	43.04	41.16	1.88	42.00
Manufacturing	1,483.40	1,447.89	35.51	1,487.07	38.6	38.6	0.0	39.0	38.43	37.51	0.92	38.13
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,265.21	1,204.63	60.58	1,272.38	32.6	32.4	0.2	32.5	38.81	37.18	1.63	39.15
Trade, Transp., Utilities	1,007.72	952.99	54.73	1,008.06	31.9	31.4	0.5	31.7	31.59	30.35	1.24	31.80
Financial Activities	2,170.94	2,178.79	-7.85	2,173.53	38.1	37.8	0.3	38.3	56.98	57.64	-0.66	56.75
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,635.52	1,561.14	74.38	1,648.08	36.2	35.4	0.8	36.0	45.18	44.10	1.08	45.78
Education & Health Ser.	1,191.63	1,119.32	72.31	1,189.33	33.0	32.7	0.3	32.8	36.11	34.23	1.88	36.26
Leisure & Hospitality	628.85	606.06	22.79	610.62	25.9	26.0	-0.1	25.4	24.28	23.31	0.97	24.04
Other Services	864.98	928.50	-63.52	857.49	28.5	30.0	-1.5	28.3	30.35	30.95	-0.60	30.30

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,376.75	1,298.23	78.52	1,369.73	33.4	32.9	0.5	33.4	41.22	39.46	1.76	41.01
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,312.75	1,278.82	33.93	1,322.25	33.6	33.6	0.0	33.5	39.07	38.06	1.01	39.47
New Haven	1,223.38	1,172.88	50.50	1,227.07	33.1	32.4	0.7	33.2	36.96	36.20	0.76	36.96
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,147.58	1,081.84	65.74	1,149.86	32.1	32.4	-0.3	32.2	35.75	33.39	2.36	35.71
Waterbury-Shelton	1,160.06	1,061.52	98.54	1,138.39	34.2	33.1	1.1	33.7	33.92	32.07	1.85	33.78

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) decreased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, after rising 0.2 percent in February, 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 all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in March, following a 0.2-percent increase in February. Indexes that increased over the month include personal care, medical care, education, apparel, and new vehicles. The indexes for airline fares, motor vehicle insurance, used cars and trucks, and recreation were among the major indexes that decreased in March.

The all items index rose 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending March, after rising 2.8 percent over the 12 months ending February. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months, the smallest 12-month increase since March 2021. The energy index decreased 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending March. The food index increased 3.0 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary March 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.6% (seasonally adjusted). This is up from February 2025, when it was 3.4%. CT’s unemployment rate is up four-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago (3.2%). The U.S. unemployment rate for March 2025 was 4.2%, up one-tenth of one percent from the February 2025 rate (4.1%) and higher over the year from 3.9% in March 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	3.6	4.2	0.6
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 March 2025 were 2,534. This is 211 (-7.7%) claims lower than February 2025 (2,745) but higher by a small 9 claims (0.4%) than the March 2024 (2,525) level.

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	1,956.4	1,886.9	69.5
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: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 (April 2025, preliminary data)

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