Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: September 20, 2018

	Nonfarm jobs grow by 1,100 in August; unemployment rate falls to 4.3%
	WETHERSFIELD, September 20, 2018 - Preliminary Connecticut nonfarm job estimates from the business payroll survey administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the state gained 1,100 net jobs (0.1%) in August 2018, to a level of 1,699,600, seasonally adjusted. Over the year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 18,800 jobs (1.1%). The July 2018 originally-released job decline of 1,200 was revised up to a gain of 500 over the month. The number of the state's unemployed residents was estimated at 80,900, seasonally adjusted, down 1,900 from July. As a result, Connecticut's August unemployment rate dropped by one-tenth of a point to 4.3%, 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. "After dips in March and April, we have now seen four straight months of employment gains in Connecticut," said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. "On an annual basis, the construction, manufacturing, education & health services and leisure & hospitality sectors are all showing good growth. However, financial activities, a traditional employment foundation in Connecticut, continues to show some weakness."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Private Sector grew by 1,900 (0.1%) to 1,472,900 jobs over the month in August, and added 23,900 (1.6%) seasonally-adjusted jobs over the year. The Government supersector continues to slip with a loss of 800 in August to a total of 226,700, with over-the-year losses at -5,100 or -2.2%. 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 August, while four declined. The Educational and Health Services supersector led growing industries with 1,000 net new jobs (0.3%, 342,400 total jobs), while Leisure and Hospitality added 700 jobs, (0.4%, 161,300). Professional and Business Services (0.2%, 222,800) and Construction and Mining (0.8%, 62,600 jobs) were next, adding 500 new positions each. The Financial Activities supersector contributed 200 new jobs (0.2%, 127,300) while the Other Services supersector added 100 jobs (0.2%, 65,100) in August.

In addition to the Government supersector mentioned above, the Trade, Transportation & Utilities supersector lost 900 jobs (-0.3%, 297,200) in August, while Manufacturing (-0.1%, 163,500) and Information (-0.3%, 30,700) both saw small losses of 100.

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

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Aug 2018	Aug 2017	Change	Rate %	Aug 2018	Jul 2018	Change	Rate %	Jun 2018	May 2018	Apr 2018
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,699,600	1,680,800	18,800	1.1%	1,699,600	1,698,500	1,100	0.1%	1,698,000	1,692,700	1,686,600
	Private Sector	1,472,900	1,449,000	23,900	1.6%	1,472,900	1,471,000	1,900	0.1%	1,470,000	1,463,100	1,456,500

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	62,000	58,300	3,700	6.3%	62,000	61,500	500	0.8%	61,000	59,500	59,200

	Manufacturing	163,500	159,300	4,200	2.6%	163,500	163,600	-100	-0.1%	163,700	163,100	162,800
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	297,200	298,100	-900	-0.3%	297,200	298,100	-900	-0.3%	299,300	299,600	297,600

	Information	30,700	31,200	-500	-1.6%	30,700	30,800	-100	-0.3%	30,900	30,700	30,600

	Financial Activities	127,300	127,800	-500	-0.4%	127,300	127,100	200	0.2%	127,400	127,500	127,600

	Professional and Business Services	222,800	217,900	4,900	2.2%	222,800	222,300	500	0.2%	222,700	221,200	220,500

	Educational and Health Services	342,400	333,800	8,600	2.6%	342,400	341,400	1,000	0.3%	340,800	339,200	338,800

	Leisure and Hospitality	161,300	156,900	4,400	2.8%	161,300	160,600	700	0.4%	158,300	156,100	154,500

	Other Services	65,100	65,100	0	0.0%	65,100	65,000	100	0.2%	65,300	65,600	64,400

	Government	226,700	231,800	-5,100	-2.2%	226,700	227,500	-800	-0.4%	228,000	229,600	230,100
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	149,279,000	146,949,000	2,330,000	1.6%	149,279,000	149,078,000	201,000	0.1%	148,931,000	148,723,000	148,455,000

Connecticut has now recovered 88.5% (105,400 jobs) of the 119,100 seasonally adjusted jobs lost in the "Great Recession" (3/08-2/10). The job recovery is into its 102nd month and the state needs an additional 13,700 net new jobs to reach an overall nonfarm employment expansion. The state's Private Sector continues its expansion from the recession and is at 113.2% (126,400) of the private sector jobs lost in that same employment downturn.

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

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

March
2008 February
2010 August
2018 Jobs Lost Recovered

Jobs Percent

CT Nonfarm Employment 1,713.3 1,594.2 1,699.6 -119.1 105.4 88.5%

Total Private Sector 1,458.2 1,346.5 1,472.9 -111.7 126.4 113.2%

* March 2008 was employment peak. February 2010 was employment trough. Last Updated: September 20, 2018

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Three of the six LMAs seasonally adjusted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics saw job increases in August 2018. Two LMAs saw declines and the Danbury LMA was unchanged at 79,100 jobs. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA posted 1,000 net new positions (0.2%, 580,800). The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA was next, adding 900 jobs (0.2%, 408,100), and the Waterbury LMA added 700 new jobs (1.1%, 67,200). The Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA saw a 200 job loss (-0.2%, 131,800) and the New Haven LMA (-0.0%, 286,100) saw a small decline of 100 jobs.

	August	July	June	May	August	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2018 P	2018 R	2018	2018	2017	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	408,100	407,200	407,800	405,600	406,600	900	0.2%	1,500	0.4%
Danbury	79,100	79,100	79,300	79,200	78,100	0	0.0%	1,000	1.3%
Hartford	580,800	579,800	580,300	577,100	571,500	1,000	0.2%	9,300	1.6%
New Haven	286,100	286,200	285,200	285,700	285,500	-100	0.0%	600	0.2%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	131,800	132,000	131,500	131,000	130,300	-200	-0.2%	1,500	1.2%
Waterbury	67,200	66,500	66,500	66,500	67,200	700	1.1%	0	0.0%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non
Enfield	44,800	44,900	45,300	45,400	44,400	-100	-0.2%	400	0.9%
Torrington-Northwest	33,400	33,700	33,500	32,900	33,200	-300	-0.9%	200	0.6%
Danielson-Northeast	26,900	26,800	27,200	27,100	26,900	100	0.4%	0	0.0%

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 34.1 hours in August 2018, up three-tenths of an hour from the same month a year ago (0.9%). Average hourly earnings at $31.53, not seasonally adjusted, were up $0.71 (2.3%) from the August 2017 estimate ($30.82). The resultant average Private Sector weekly pay amounted to $1,075.17, up $33.45 from a year ago (3.2%).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Aug		CHG	Jul	Aug		CHG	Jul	Aug		CHG	Jul
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018	2018	2017	Y/Y	2018
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,074.85	$1,069.24	$5.61	$1,060.90	41.5	41.8	-0.3	41.2	$25.90	$25.58	$0.32	$25.75
DURABLE GOODS	1,167.06	1,096.28	70.77	1,135.71	42.3	42.1	0.2	41.8	27.59	26.04	1.55	27.17
NON-DUR. GOODS	781.89	969.93	-188.04	812.89	38.9	40.6	-1.7	39.1	20.10	23.89	-3.79	20.79
CONSTRUCTION	1,231.87	1,169.20	62.67	1,244.51	40.1	39.5	0.6	41.1	30.72	29.60	1.12	30.28

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,075.17	1,041.72	33.46	1,092.80	34.1	33.8	0.3	34.3	31.53	30.82	0.71	31.86
GOODS PRODUCING	1,317.89	1,231.65	86.24	1,324.22	39.6	39.1	0.5	39.6	33.28	31.50	1.78	33.44
Construction	1,244.21	1,221.00	23.20	1,237.90	38.7	38.3	0.4	39.6	32.15	31.88	0.27	31.26
Manufacturing	1,383.14	1,235.86	147.28	1,384.29	41.3	39.7	1.6	40.5	33.49	31.13	2.36	34.18
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,030.73	1,005.98	24.76	1,049.62	33.1	32.8	0.3	33.3	31.14	30.67	0.47	31.52
Trade, Transp., Utilities	892.38	850.18	42.20	896.80	33.7	32.4	1.3	33.5	26.48	26.24	0.24	26.77
Financial Activities	1,732.91	1,729.75	3.16	1,824.76	36.8	37.0	-0.2	38.0	47.09	46.75	0.34	48.02
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,231.03	1,249.50	-18.47	1,258.92	34.3	35.7	-1.4	34.7	35.89	35.00	0.89	36.28
Education & Health Ser.	957.78	927.88	29.91	954.53	32.7	32.5	0.2	32.6	29.29	28.55	0.74	29.28
Leisure & Hospitality	465.34	435.36	29.98	478.82	26.5	25.7	0.8	26.9	17.56	16.94	0.62	17.80
Other Services	787.69	807.83	-20.14	801.25	31.8	32.6	-0.8	32.4	24.77	24.78	-0.01	24.73

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,160.40	1,127.28	33.12	1,188.84	33.9	33.6	0.3	34.3	34.23	33.55	0.68	34.66
Danbury	1,007.69	927.46	80.23	978.14	34.7	33.1	1.6	34.6	29.04	28.02	1.02	28.27
Hartford	1,121.50	1,075.99	45.51	1,145.55	34.7	34.3	0.4	35.0	32.32	31.37	0.95	32.73
New Haven	1,024.46	998.33	26.13	1,018.74	33.6	32.7	0.9	33.5	30.49	30.53	-0.04	30.41
Norwich-New London	859.39	812.49	46.89	867.02	31.9	31.9	0.0	32.1	26.94	25.47	1.47	27.01
Waterbury	909.04	843.78	65.26	930.22	34.2	34.3	-0.1	33.9	26.58	24.60	1.98	27.44

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 increased 0.2 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The August 2018 unemployment rate for Connecticut is estimated at 4.3% (seasonally adjusted), down one-tenth of a point from July 2018 and down two-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.5%. The US jobless rate in August 2018 was 3.9%, unchanged from July 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
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
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 down 1,900 from July at 80,900 in August. Over the year, the number of the state's jobless residents declined by 6,100 (-7.0%). The state's labor force increased for the second month in a row by 700 (0.0%) over the month, but is down over the year (-15,100, -0.8%).

August 2018 seasonally-adjusted average weekly initial unemployment claims for first-time filers in Connecticut fell by 339 claimants (-9.8%) to 3,106 from July 2018, and were lower by 505 claims (-14.0%) from the August 2017 level of 3,611.

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	1,818.3	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
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
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, October 18, 2018 (September 2018 data)


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