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, 2023

Connecticut jobs fully recover COVID losses (+3,700); jobless rate stays 3.5% in October

	WETHERSFIELD, November 16, 2023 - Connecticut nonfarm payroll jobs increased 3,700 (0.2%) in October 2023 to a level of 1,698,700 while the state's unemployment rate stayed at a post-COVID low of 3.5% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). The state's nonfarm industry employment is 29,300 (1.8%) positions higher than year-ago levels. The state has now fully recovered 100.4% (290,300) of the 289,100 nonagricultural jobs lost during the March-April 2020 COVID lockdown. The preliminary September 2023 gain of 3,200 positions was revised higher by 500 to a 3,700 jobs increase - matching this month's gain. Connecticut's September unemployment rate held steady at 3.5% (the lowest since July 2019) and is lower by five tenths of a percentage point from the 4.0% year-ago rate. The CT Labor Situation presents labor statistics from two monthly surveys (workplaces and households) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in cooperation with the states. "Connecticut added jobs in eight of the ten months of 2023 so far, private sector employment is now at an all-time high, and the unemployment rate remains very low" said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "Growth has come from a wide range of industries, but it is worth noting that the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which contracted sharply at the beginning of the pandemic, is now more than fully recovered."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment increased by 3,600 (0.2%) jobs in October 2023 to 1,467,000 and is higher by 24,100 positions (1.7%) from the October 2022 level. The state's Private Sector has fully recovered (102.3%) from the April 2020 COVID employment lockdown trough (1,194,800). An upward revision of 1,000 occurred to September's preliminary Private Sector job gain estimate to a 1,700 job increase. The Government supersector was higher by just 100 jobs last month to a level of 231,700 jobs. The full Government sector employment in the state is 5,200 positions (2.3%) higher than year-ago levels. The public sector is now just 78.4% recovered from the general COVID April 2020 employment lockdown low point including last month's downward revision of -500 to 2,000 from 2,500 initially reported. Connecticut's Government supersector covers all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations.

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

The six industry supersectors that increased employment in October 2023:

Trade, Transportation & Utilities +2,600, 0.9%, 302,600
Educational and Health Services +1,400, 0.4%, 357,500
Other Services +800, 1.3%, 63,100
Construction and Mining +600, 1.0%, 61,700
Information +300, 0.9%, 32,000
Government +100, 0.04%, 231,700

The four industry supersectors that decreased jobs in October 2023:

Leisure and Hospitality -800, -0.5%, 154,300
Manufacturing -800, -0.5%, 158,000
Financial Activities -300, -0.3%, 114,400
Professional and Business Services -200, -0.1%, 223,400

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

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Oct 2023	Oct 2022	Change	Rate %	Oct 2023	Sep 2023	Change	Rate %	Aug 2023	Jul 2023	Jun 2023
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,698,700	1,669,400	29,300	1.8%	1,698,700	1,695,000	3,700	0.2%	1,691,200	1,691,200	1,689,300
	Private Sector	1,467,000	1,442,900	24,100	1.7%	1,467,000	1,463,400	3,600	0.2%	1,461,700	1,460,300	1,457,800

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	61,200	61,200	0	0.0%	61,200	60,600	600	1.0%	61,600	61,300	59,800

	Manufacturing	158,000	159,100	-1,100	-0.7%	158,000	158,800	-800	-0.5%	157,800	157,200	157,700
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Trade, Transportation and Utilities	302,600	294,500	8,100	2.8%	302,600	300,000	2,600	0.9%	300,100	299,800	299,500

	Information	32,000	31,200	800	2.6%	32,000	31,700	300	0.9%	31,600	31,600	31,400

	Financial Activities	114,400	118,100	-3,700	-3.1%	114,400	114,700	-300	-0.3%	114,700	114,900	114,700

	Professional and Business Services	223,400	219,400	4,000	1.8%	223,400	223,600	-200	-0.1%	223,800	223,700	224,800

	Educational and Health Services	357,500	345,200	12,300	3.6%	357,500	356,100	1,400	0.4%	355,300	354,000	351,200

	Leisure and Hospitality	154,300	151,800	2,500	1.6%	154,300	155,100	-800	-0.5%	155,500	155,900	156,700

	Other Services	63,100	61,900	1,200	1.9%	63,100	62,300	800	1.3%	60,800	61,400	61,500

	Government	231,700	226,500	5,200	2.3%	231,700	231,600	100	0.0%	229,600	230,900	231,500
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	156,923,000	154,006,000	2,917,000	1.9%	156,923,000	156,773,000	150,000	0.1%	156,476,000	156,311,000	156,075,000

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the six major Connecticut LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS posted nonfarm employment increases in October 2023, while two declined. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.3%, 579,000) led in numerical gains adding 1,500 while the Waterbury LMA (0.3%, 68,200) added 200 jobs. Both the Danbury LMA (0.1%, 77,100) and the Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (0.1%, 126,800) added 100 positions each. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA ( 0.1%, 406,200) decreased 300 positions and the New Haven LMA (-0.03%, 306,100) declined a small 100 positions.

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

	October	September	August	July	October	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2023 P	2023 R	2023	2023	2022	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	406,200	406,500	407,800	407,100	401,800	-300	-0.1%	4,400	1.1%
Danbury	77,100	77,000	77,200	76,900	76,500	100	0.1%	600	0.8%
Hartford	579,000	577,500	578,100	577,300	572,900	1,500	0.3%	6,100	1.1%
New Haven	306,100	306,200	305,200	302,200	297,900	-100	0.0%	8,200	2.8%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	126,800	126,700	126,500	126,400	124,000	100	0.1%	2,800	2.3%
Waterbury	68,200	68,000	67,700	67,200	66,600	200	0.3%	1,600	2.4%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No
Enfield	43,200	43,100	42,800	42,600	42,600	100	0.2%	600	1.4%
Torrington-Northwest	33,200	33,200	33,400	33,600	33,200	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Danielson-Northeast	27,600	27,500	27,400	27,400	27,200	100	0.4%	400	1.5%

* 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 October 2023 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.7 hours. This is lower by three-tenths of an hour than the October 2022 average of 34.0 hours. Average hourly earnings at $36.88 in October, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.55 (4.4%) from the October 2022 estimate of $35.33. The resulting October 2023 Private Sector weekly wage averaged $1,242.86, higher by $41.46 (3.5%) from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Oct		CHG	Sep	Oct		CHG	Sep	Oct		CHG	Sep
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023	2023	2022	Y/Y	2023
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,181.44	$1,154.91	$26.53	$1,172.40	39.9	41.1	-1.2	40.0	$29.61	$28.10	$1.51	$29.31
DURABLE GOODS	1,263.31	1,212.16	51.15	1,268.47	40.4	41.3	-0.9	40.8	31.27	29.35	1.92	31.09
NON-DUR. GOODS	951.72	989.02	-37.30	903.54	38.5	40.6	-2.1	37.9	24.72	24.36	0.36	23.84
CONSTRUCTION	1,574.47	1,377.63	196.83	1,505.03	40.6	38.6	2.0	39.7	38.78	35.69	3.09	37.91

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,242.86	1,201.22	41.64	1,202.40	33.7	34.0	-0.3	33.4	36.88	35.33	1.55	36.00
GOODS PRODUCING	1,516.75	1,479.41	37.34	1,486.13	40.2	40.3	-0.1	39.8	37.73	36.71	1.02	37.34
Construction	1,575.14	1,500.97	74.17	1,527.49	39.3	39.2	0.1	38.7	40.08	38.29	1.79	39.47
Manufacturing	1,484.54	1,405.20	79.34	1,479.67	39.8	40.0	-0.2	39.5	37.30	35.13	2.17	37.46
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,196.09	1,152.16	43.93	1,153.43	32.6	32.9	-0.3	32.3	36.69	35.02	1.67	35.71
Trade, Transp., Utilities	941.06	914.57	26.49	921.65	31.4	31.9	-0.5	31.2	29.97	28.67	1.30	29.54
Financial Activities	2,239.10	2,100.24	138.86	2,104.50	39.2	38.8	0.4	37.4	57.12	54.13	2.99	56.27
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,541.16	1,484.31	56.85	1,476.64	36.0	36.3	-0.3	35.2	42.81	40.89	1.92	41.95
Education & Health Ser.	1,134.54	1,104.23	30.31	1,114.32	33.0	33.3	-0.3	32.9	34.38	33.16	1.22	33.87
Leisure & Hospitality	583.44	547.80	35.64	572.60	26.0	24.9	1.1	25.7	22.44	22.00	0.44	22.28
Other Services	876.29	980.27	-103.98	877.46	29.2	31.1	-1.9	29.2	30.01	31.52	-1.51	30.05

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,314.36	1,321.58	-7.22	1,273.95	32.9	33.8	-0.9	32.8	39.95	39.10	0.85	38.84
Danbury	1,257.41	1,273.91	-16.50	1,172.29	35.5	37.0	-1.5	34.9	35.42	34.43	0.99	33.59
Hartford	1,315.80	1,248.03	67.77	1,282.84	34.4	34.4	0.0	34.1	38.25	36.28	1.97	37.62
New Haven	1,142.61	1,131.58	11.03	1,117.13	33.4	33.9	-0.5	33.1	34.21	33.38	0.83	33.75
Norwich-New London	1,032.77	982.42	50.35	1,006.25	32.6	32.2	0.4	32.2	31.68	30.51	1.17	31.25
Waterbury	916.16	953.77	-37.61	931.45	32.0	32.9	-0.9	32.5	28.63	28.99	-0.36	28.66

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) was unchanged in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.4 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter continued to rise in October, offsetting a decline in the gasoline index and resulting in the seasonally adjusted index being unchanged over the month. The energy index fell 2.5 percent over the month as a 5.0-percent decline in the gasoline index more than offset increases in other energy component indexes. The food index increased 0.3 percent in October, after rising 0.2 percent in September. The index for food at home increased 0.3 percent over the month while the index for food away from home rose 0.4 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in October, after rising 0.3 percent in September. Indexes which increased in October include rent, owners' equivalent rent, motor vehicle insurance, medical care, recreation, and personal care. The indexes for lodging away from home, used cars and trucks, communication, and airline fares were among those that decreased over the month.

The all items index rose 3.2 percent for the 12 months ending October, a smaller increase than the 3.7-percent increase for the 12 months ending September. The all items less food and energy index rose 4.0 percent over the last 12 months, its smallest 12-month change since the period ending in September 2021. The energy index decreased 4.5 percent for the 12 months ending October, and the food index increased 3.3 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary October 2023 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.5% (seasonally adjusted). This was unchanged over-the-month staying at the post-COVID lockdown low point and is down five-tenths of one percent compared to the October 2022 level of 4.0%. This is the third straight month at 3.5% for the state. The U.S. unemployment rate for October 2023 was 3.9%, up from the September 2023 rate of 3.8% and higher over-the-year from the U.S. jobless rate of 3.7% in October 2022.

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	3.5	3.8	0.3
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	3.5	3.8	0.3
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	3.5	3.9	0.4
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 October 2023 were 2,253, not seasonally adjusted. The twelve-month moving average was 4,043 per week through October 2023, lower by 11 (-0.3%) from the twelve months ending September 2023 (4,054) but higher by 173 (4.5%) than the average weekly count of 3,870 for the twelve months ending in October 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	1,896.5	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	1,897.8	1,832.3	65.5
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	1,899.0	1,833.3	65.7
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, December 21, 2023 (November 2023, preliminary data)


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