Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: August 18, 2023

Connecticut's August jobless rate now lower than the U.S.; state payrolls gain 2,100

	WETHERSFIELD, September 18, 2023 - Connecticut nonfarm payroll jobs increased 2,100 (0.1%) in August 2023 to a level of 1,693,300 while the state's unemployment rate held steady at the post-COVID low of 3.6% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). Nonfarm employment is now 21,200 (1.3%) positions higher than the August 2022 level. The state has now recovered 98.5% (284,900) of the 289,100 nonagricultural jobs lost during the March-April 2020 COVID lockdown. The preliminary July 2023 gain of 2,900 (0.2%) positions was revised lower by 1,000 to a 1,900 (0.1%) job increase. Connecticut's unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% (the lowest since September 2019) from the July 2023 level and is lower by three tenths of a percentage point from the 3.9% rate a year ago. The CT Labor Situation reports on the most up-to-date labor statistics from two monthly surveys (workplaces and residents) generated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) with support from the states. "Two months of steady job growth in a wide range of industries suggests Connecticut is heading toward a balanced path after the turmoil caused by the pandemic," said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "The private sector has more than fully recovered from pandemic losses with construction employment at its highest level in nearly fifteen years."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment gained 2,200 (0.2%) jobs in August 2023 to 1,462,500 and is higher by 18,300 positions (1.3%) from the August 2022 level. The state's Private Sector is fully recovered (100.6%) from the April 2020 COVID employment lockdown low point (1,194,800)! A downward revision of 400 occurred to July's preliminary Private Sector job gain estimate (2,900, 0.2%) to a 2,500 (0.2%) job increase. The Government supersector was slightly lower (-100, -0.04%) last month to a level of 230,800 jobs. The full Government sector employment in the state is 2,900 positions (1.3%) higher than year-ago levels. The Private Sector is 74.5% recovered from the overall COVID April 2020 employment lockdown low. The state's Government supersector combines all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations. Connecticut aggregated government employment (2,900), total private jobs (18,300), and overall total nonfarm payrolls (21,200) are all now growing exactly same percentage over-the-year (1.27%), seasonally adjusted.

Six of the ten major industry supersectors added jobs in August 2023, while four declined.

The six industry supersectors that increased employment in August 2023:

Educational and Health Services +800, 0.2%, 354,800
Professional and Business Services +700, 0.3%, 224,400
Construction and Mining +500, 0.8%, 62,300
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +500, 0.2%, 300,300
Manufacturing +400, 0.3%, 157,600
Information +200, 0.6%, 31,800

The four industry supersectors that decreased jobs in August 2023:

Other Services -400, -0.7%, 61,000
Leisure and Hospitality -300, -0.2%, 155,600
Financial Activities -200, -0.2%, 114,700
Government -100, -0.04%, 230,800

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

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Aug 2023	Aug 2022	Change	Rate %	Aug 2023	Jul 2023	Change	Rate %	Jun 2023	May 2023	Apr 2023
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,693,300	1,672,100	21,200	1.3%	1,693,300	1,691,200	2,100	0.1%	1,689,300	1,691,800	1,686,500
	Private Sector	1,462,500	1,444,200	18,300	1.3%	1,462,500	1,460,300	2,200	0.2%	1,457,800	1,461,000	1,455,800

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	61,800	60,400	1,400	2.3%	61,800	61,300	500	0.8%	59,800	58,800	59,400

	Manufacturing	157,600	157,800	-200	-0.1%	157,600	157,200	400	0.3%	157,700	157,600	157,500
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	300,300	299,000	1,300	0.4%	300,300	299,800	500	0.2%	299,500	300,100	298,800

	Information	31,800	31,400	400	1.3%	31,800	31,600	200	0.6%	31,400	32,100	31,500

	Financial Activities	114,700	118,000	-3,300	-2.8%	114,700	114,900	-200	-0.2%	114,700	115,300	114,800

	Professional and Business Services	224,400	221,800	2,600	1.2%	224,400	223,700	700	0.3%	224,800	225,300	224,500

	Educational and Health Services	354,800	342,800	12,000	3.5%	354,800	354,000	800	0.2%	351,200	351,500	352,400

	Leisure and Hospitality	155,600	151,000	4,600	3.0%	155,600	155,900	-300	-0.2%	156,700	156,400	154,100

	Other Services	61,000	61,500	-500	-0.8%	61,000	61,400	-400	-0.7%	61,500	63,400	62,300

	Government	230,800	227,900	2,900	1.3%	230,800	230,900	-100	-0.0%	231,500	230,800	230,700
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	156,419,000	153,332,000	3,087,000	2.0%	156,419,000	156,232,000	187,000	0.1%	156,075,000	155,970,000	155,689,000

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the six major Connecticut LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS posted nonfarm employment gains in August 2023, while theDanbury LMA (0.0%, 76,900) and the Waterbury LMA (0.0%, 67,200) were unchanged. The New Haven LMA (0.6%, 304,000) added 1,800 to lead in both monthly numeric and percentage job gain. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA (0.3%, 408,500) increased 1,400 positions and the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.2%, 578,500) added 1,200 net payrolls. The seasonal southeastern Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (0.3%, 126,800) also chipped in 400 positions this August 2023.

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

	August	July	June	May	August	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2023 P	2023 R	2023	2023	2022	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	408,500	407,100	406,900	407,700	402,100	1,400	0.3%	6,400	1.6%
Danbury	76,900	76,900	76,900	77,100	76,300	0	0.0%	600	0.8%
Hartford	578,500	577,300	576,000	578,000	573,700	1,200	0.2%	4,800	0.8%
New Haven	304,000	302,200	300,900	302,800	296,900	1,800	0.6%	7,100	2.4%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	126,800	126,400	126,000	125,700	123,200	400	0.3%	3,600	2.9%
Waterbury	67,200	67,200	66,700	67,300	66,000	0	0.0%	1,200	1.8%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No
Enfield	42,700	42,600	42,900	42,400	42,200	100	0.2%	500	1.2%
Torrington-Northwest	33,400	33,600	33,700	33,000	33,200	-200	-0.6%	200	0.6%
Danielson-Northeast	27,600	27,400	27,700	27,500	27,000	200	0.7%	600	2.2%

* 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 August 2023 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.3 hours. This is lower by four-tenths of an hour (-1.2%) than the August 2022 average of 33.7 hours. Average hourly earnings at $35.65 in August, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.04 (3.0%) from the August 2022 estimate of $34.61. The subsequent August 2023 Private Sector weekly wage averaged $1,187.15, higher by $20.79 from a year ago (1.8%, $1,166.36).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Aug		CHG	Jul	Aug		CHG	Jul	Aug		CHG	Jul
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,167.25	$1,139.68	$27.57	$1,169.72	40.6	40.4	0.2	40.1	$28.75	$28.21	$0.54	$29.17
DURABLE GOODS	1,261.30	1,198.40	62.91	1,261.29	41.3	40.5	0.8	40.4	30.54	29.59	0.95	31.22
NON-DUR. GOODS	897.84	967.60	-69.76	920.41	38.6	40.0	-1.4	39.3	23.26	24.19	-0.93	23.42
CONSTRUCTION	1,517.00	1,382.83	134.17	1,498.04	39.9	39.6	0.3	38.9	38.02	34.92	3.10	38.51

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,187.15	1,166.36	20.79	1,196.62	33.3	33.7	-0.4	33.5	35.65	34.61	1.04	35.72
GOODS PRODUCING	1,469.02	1,478.09	-9.07	1,471.93	39.8	40.1	-0.3	39.6	36.91	36.86	0.05	37.17
Construction	1,519.02	1,546.13	-27.11	1,507.24	38.8	39.9	-1.1	38.1	39.15	38.75	0.40	39.56
Manufacturing	1,448.34	1,390.27	58.07	1,468.90	39.4	40.1	-0.7	39.7	36.76	34.67	2.09	37.00
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,138.91	1,108.58	30.33	1,146.96	32.2	32.5	-0.3	32.4	35.37	34.11	1.26	35.40
Trade, Transp., Utilities	934.35	907.56	26.79	924.69	31.9	31.9	0.0	31.7	29.29	28.45	0.84	29.17
Financial Activities	2,150.66	1,905.87	244.79	2,161.55	38.2	36.8	1.4	38.8	56.30	51.79	4.51	55.71
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,499.52	1,418.94	80.58	1,517.27	35.5	35.5	0.0	35.6	42.24	39.97	2.27	42.62
Education & Health Ser.	1,100.18	1,075.68	24.50	1,107.86	32.9	33.2	-0.3	33.1	33.44	32.40	1.04	33.47
Leisure & Hospitality	556.29	541.78	14.51	557.02	25.6	25.4	0.2	25.4	21.73	21.33	0.40	21.93
Other Services	878.92	969.63	-90.71	888.25	30.1	31.4	-1.3	30.1	29.20	30.88	-1.68	29.51

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,253.20	1,266.30	-13.10	1,260.64	32.5	33.5	-1.0	32.6	38.56	37.80	0.76	38.67
Danbury	1,175.28	1,279.90	-104.62	1,206.24	35.4	36.6	-1.2	35.9	33.20	34.97	-1.77	33.60
Hartford	1,249.92	1,208.36	41.56	1,272.28	33.8	34.0	-0.2	34.0	36.98	35.54	1.44	37.42
New Haven	1,105.23	1,100.53	4.70	1,131.58	33.2	33.8	-0.6	33.9	33.29	32.56	0.73	33.38
Norwich-New London	1,012.11	933.76	78.35	1,013.05	33.0	32.0	1.0	32.7	30.67	29.18	1.49	30.98
Waterbury	887.68	952.71	-65.03	888.90	32.0	33.3	-1.3	32.3	27.74	28.61	-0.87	27.52

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) rose 0.6 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.2 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for gasoline was the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase, accounting for over half of the increase. Also contributing to the August monthly increase was continued advancement in the shelter index, which rose for the 40th consecutive month. The energy index rose 5.6 percent in August as all the major energy component indexes increased. The food index increased 0.2 percent in August, as it did in July. The index for food at home increased 0.2 percent over the month while the index for food away from home rose 0.3 percent in August.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in August, following a 0.2-percent increase in July. Indexes which increased in August include rent, owners' equivalent rent, motor vehicle insurance, medical care, and personal care. The indexes for lodging away from home, used cars and trucks, and recreation were among those that decreased over the month.

The all items index increased 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending August, a larger increase than the 3.2-percent increase for the 12 months ending in July. The all items less food and energy index rose 4.3 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 3.6 percent for the 12 months ending August, and the food index increased 4.3 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary August 2023 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.6% (seasonally adjusted). This is holding unchanged over-the-month at the post COVID lockdown low and is down three-tenths of one percent compared to the August 2022 level of 3.9%. This is the first time since May 2020 that Connecticut's unemployment rate has been below the U.S. jobless rate. They were both 3.7% in May 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate for August 2023 was calculated at 3.8%, up three-tenths of a percentage point from the July 2023 rate (3.5%) and is now higher than the U.S. jobless rate of 3.7% a year ago. The number unemployed declined to 67,300, the lowest since May 2019 which was the lowest since February 2002.

Month	2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	4.9	4.7	-0.2	4.5	4.0	-0.5	3.7	4.0	0.3	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.0	6.3	-0.7	4.8	4.0	-0.8	3.9	3.4	-0.5
Feb	4.9	4.6	-0.3	4.1	4.1	0.0	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.9	3.5	-0.4	6.9	6.2	-0.7	4.6	3.8	-0.8	4.0	3.6	-0.4
Mar	4.9	4.4	-0.5	4.1	4.0	-0.1	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.9	4.4	0.5	6.9	6.1	-0.8	4.3	3.6	-0.7	3.9	3.5	-0.4
Apr	4.8	4.4	-0.4	4.0	4.0	0.0	3.5	3.6	0.1	8.2	14.7	6.5	6.9	6.1	-0.8	4.2	3.6	-0.6	3.8	3.4	-0.4
May	4.7	4.4	-0.3	3.9	3.8	-0.1	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.7	13.2	1.5	6.7	5.8	-0.9	4.1	3.6	-0.5	3.7	3.7	0.0
Jun	4.7	4.3	-0.4	3.9	4.0	0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.4	11.0	-0.4	6.7	5.9	-0.8	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.7	3.6	-0.1
Jul	4.6	4.3	-0.3	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.6	10.2	-1.4	6.4	5.4	-1.0	4.0	3.5	-0.5	3.6	3.5	-0.1
Aug	4.5	4.4	-0.1	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.6	3.7	0.1	9.6	8.4	-1.2	6.2	5.2	-1.0	3.9	3.7	-0.2	3.6	3.8	0.2
Sep	4.5	4.3	-0.2	3.7	3.7	0.0	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.9	-0.9	5.8	4.8	-1.0	4.0	3.5	-0.5
Oct	4.5	4.2	-0.3	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.9	6.9	-1.0	5.6	4.5	-1.1	4.0	3.7	-0.3
Nov	4.5	4.2	-0.3	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.5	6.7	-0.8	5.3	4.2	-1.1	4.0	3.6	-0.4
Dec	4.5	4.1	-0.4	3.7	3.9	0.2	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.3	6.7	-0.6	5.1	3.9	-1.2	4.0	3.5	-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 for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut in August 2023 were 3,035, not seasonally adjusted. The twelve-month moving average was 4,092 per week through August 2023, lower by 181 (-4.2%) from the twelve months ending July 2023 (4,273) but higher by 241 (6.3%) than the average weekly count of 3,851 for the twelve months ending in August 2022.

Month	2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023
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	1,924.2	1,836.3	87.9	1,908.3	1,828.3	80.0	1,933.7	1,862.8	70.8	1,943.5	1,869.4	74.1	1,816.7	1,688.9	127.8	1,956.7	1,862.0	94.6	1,912.9	1,837.5	75.4
Feb	1,927.4	1,840.1	87.3	1,910.7	1,831.8	78.9	1,933.3	1,863.5	69.8	1,937.9	1,863.2	74.8	1,813.9	1,688.0	125.9	1,953.7	1,864.5	89.2	1,910.8	1,835.0	75.7
Mar	1,929.7	1,842.9	86.8	1,914.5	1,836.7	77.7	1,932.8	1,864.1	68.7	1,931.6	1,856.4	75.2	1,813.0	1,688.7	124.4	1,950.4	1,866.0	84.5	1,905.6	1,830.4	75.3
Apr	1,930.6	1,844.3	86.2	1,918.6	1,842.2	76.5	1,932.9	1,865.1	67.7	1,837.4	1,686.7	150.7	1,814.5	1,689.9	124.6	1,947.7	1,865.8	81.9	1,901.4	1,828.8	72.6
May	1,930.1	1,844.5	85.6	1,922.2	1,846.9	75.3	1,933.9	1,866.6	67.3	1,911.2	1,687.1	224.1	1,812.9	1,691.5	121.4	1,943.4	1,863.6	79.8	1,897.6	1,826.5	71.1
Jun	1,928.2	1,843.2	85.0	1,924.9	1,850.7	74.2	1,936.0	1,868.5	67.5	1,904.3	1,686.3	218.0	1,835.1	1,713.0	122.1	1,937.0	1,859.1	78.0	1,897.3	1,827.1	70.1
Jul	1,925.5	1,840.9	84.6	1,926.8	1,853.6	73.2	1,938.6	1,870.2	68.4	1,912.5	1,690.4	222.2	1,851.1	1,732.9	118.2	1,928.7	1,852.5	76.2	1,896.8	1,827.9	68.9
Aug	1,922.2	1,838.0	84.2	1,928.5	1,856.0	72.5	1,941.3	1,871.6	69.7	1,871.2	1,692.4	178.8	1,868.1	1,753.2	115.0	1,919.9	1,845.6	74.2	1,896.6	1,829.2	67.3
Sep	1,918.8	1,835.0	83.7	1,930.0	1,857.9	72.1	1,943.9	1,873.2	70.7	1,859.3	1,695.7	163.7	1,883.3	1,773.1	110.2	1,916.1	1,840.2	75.9
Oct	1,915.9	1,832.7	83.1	1,931.4	1,859.4	72.0	1,946.1	1,874.6	71.6	1,839.3	1,694.8	144.6	1,901.3	1,794.6	106.8	1,913.8	1,837.0	76.8
Nov	1,913.9	1,831.4	82.5	1,932.6	1,860.8	71.9	1,947.5	1,875.0	72.5	1,830.2	1,693.2	137.0	1,918.3	1,816.5	101.9	1,913.7	1,837.1	76.6
Dec	1,913.2	1,831.6	81.6	1,933.4	1,861.9	71.5	1,946.8	1,873.5	73.3	1,824.4	1,690.9	133.5	1,937.4	1,839.1	98.3	1,914.3	1,838.1	76.2


	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 19, 2023 (September 2023, preliminary data)


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