Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: March 14, 2024

On the new benchmark, CT adds 2,300 jobs in January while the jobless rate rose to 3.3%.

	WETHERSFIELD, March 14, 2025 - Connecticut nonfarm industry added 2,300 jobs (0.1%) in January 2025 to a level of 1,718,400 while the state’s unemployment rate was up one-tenth of one percent to 3.3% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). Statewide payroll jobs are now 14,400 (0.8%) positions higher than a year ago. The December 2024 preliminary robust job gain of 5,100 (0.3%, on the old benchmark, 1,715,900) was lowered to a still healthy gain of 3,500 jobs (0.2%, on the new benchmark, 1,716,100) - with very little revision to the CT nonfarm employment level. The January 2025 preliminary Connecticut jobless rate at 3.3%, is unchanged from a year ago (3.3%, after annual processing) and still well below the nation (4.0%). 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. “Benchmark revisions confirm that Connecticut had solid job growth in 2024 and sustained a low unemployment rate below 3.5% for two years,” said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. “January’s jobs increase shows Connecticut starts the year with growth in a wide range of industries. Private sector employment has achieved a new all-time high.”

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut’s Private Sector employment grew 1,900 positions (0.1%) over-the-month in January 2025 to 1,483,700 and is up by 14,200 jobs (1.0%) from the revised January 2024 level (1,469,500). December’s preliminary private sector gain of 4,700 jobs (0.3%, 1,482,400, on old BM) was adjusted lower some on revisions to a 3,600 increase (0.2%, on new BM, 1,481,800) – again on very little job level change. The government supersector also added 400 jobs (0.2%) in January to a level of 234,700 jobs but is now just slightly higher by 200 (0.1%) 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.

Six of the ten major industry supersectors increased jobs in January 2025, while three declined and the manufacturing supersector was unchanged..

The seven industry supersectors that increased employment or were unchanged in January 2025 included:

Professional and Business Services +1,800 0.8% 223,200
Financial Activities +600 0.5% 119,200
Government +400 0.2% 234,700
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +200 0.1% 299,800
Educational and Health Services +200 0.1% 371,900
Leisure & Hospitality +100 0.1% 157,000
Manufacturing unchanged 0.0% 155,400

The three industry supersector that decreased jobs in January 2025 were:

Construction and Mining -800 -1.3% 62,800
Information -100 -0.3% 30,400
Other Services -100 -0.2% 64,000

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

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

CONNECTICUT	1,718,400	1,716,100	1,712,600	1,711,000	1,704,000	2,300	0.1%	14,400	0.8%
Total Private	1,483,700	1,481,800	1,478,200	1,476,700	1,469,500	1,900	0.1%	14,200	1.0%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	400	0	0.0%	100	25.0%
Construction	62,300	63,100	63,100	63,100	62,500	-800	-1.3%	-200	-0.3%
Manufacturing	155,400	155,400	155,500	155,700	157,100	0	0.0%	-1,700	-1.1%
Durable Goods	121,800	122,100	122,100	122,400	123,100	-300	-0.2%	-1,300	-1.1%
Nondurable Goods	33,600	33,300	33,400	33,300	34,000	300	0.9%	-400	-1.2%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	299,800	299,600	298,900	298,300	299,100	200	0.1%	700	0.2%
Wholesale	61,600	61,300	61,100	60,800	61,000	300	0.5%	600	1.0%
Retail	165,000	165,400	164,200	164,800	166,000	-400	-0.2%	-1,000	-0.6%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	73,200	72,900	73,600	72,700	72,100	300	0.4%	1,100	1.5%
Information	30,400	30,500	30,200	30,600	30,900	-100	-0.3%	-500	-1.6%
Financial Activities	119,200	118,600	118,500	117,800	117,800	600	0.5%	1,400	1.2%
Finance & Insurance	99,300	98,700	98,600	98,100	98,200	600	0.6%	1,100	1.1%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	19,900	19,900	19,900	19,700	19,600	0	0.0%	300	1.5%
Professional & Business Services	223,200	221,400	221,600	222,400	221,100	1,800	0.8%	2,100	0.9%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	102,300	100,900	101,200	101,800	100,900	1,400	1.4%	1,400	1.4%
Management of Companies	31,000	31,000	30,900	30,900	30,800	0	0.0%	200	0.6%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	89,900	89,500	89,500	89,700	89,400	400	0.4%	500	0.6%
Educational & Health Services	371,900	371,700	370,800	370,000	361,800	200	0.1%	10,100	2.8%
Private Educational Services	74,700	75,100	75,300	75,300	72,500	-400	-0.5%	2,200	3.0%
Health Care & Social Assistance	297,200	296,600	295,500	294,700	289,300	600	0.2%	7,900	2.7%
Leisure and Hospitality	157,000	156,900	154,900	154,300	155,200	100	0.1%	1,800	1.2%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	28,000	28,300	28,000	27,800	28,300	-300	-1.1%	-300	-1.1%
Accommodation & Food Services	129,000	128,600	126,900	126,500	126,900	400	0.3%	2,100	1.7%
Other Services	64,000	64,100	64,200	64,000	63,600	-100	-0.2%	400	0.6%
Government**	234,700	234,300	234,400	234,300	234,500	400	0.2%	200	0.1%
UNITED STATES	159,069,000	158,926,000	158,619,000	158,358,000	157,049,000	143,000	0.1%	2,020,000	1.3%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Three of the five brand new major Connecticut LMAs (Metros formed from the CT Council of Governments, COG regions) that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (over 93.7% of the state) show nonfarm payroll job gains, while two declined in January 2025. The new Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (0.1%, 410,900) added 400 positions, and the fresh Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (0.2%, 128,600) chipped in 300 jobs. The latest New Haven LMA (0.1%, 295,900) also increased 200 in employment. The even larger now Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (-0.3%, 609,000) decreased 1,600, and the newfangled expanded Waterbury-Shelton LMA (-0.1%, 162,000) also declined 100 jobs.

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

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)	January	December	November	October	January	Over Month		Over Year
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MSAs)	2025 P	2024 R	2024	2024	2024	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	410,900	410,500	409,200	409,000	407,400	400	0.1%	3,500	0.9%
Hartford	609,000	610,600	609,300	609,700	607,500	-1,600	-0.3%	1,500	0.2%
New Haven	295,900	295,700	294,400	292,600	293,000	200	0.1%	2,900	1.0%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	128,600	128,300	127,600	127,900	126,800	300	0.2%	1,800	1.4%
Waterbury - Shelton	162,000	162,100	161,000	161,000	160,600	-100	-0.1%	1,400	0.9%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non-Classified Areas, 2 Micropolitan Statistical Areas - Micros, State estimated - not BLS)
Putnam - Northeastern	28,300	28,800	28,900	28,900	28,700	-500	-1.7%	-400	-1.4%
Torrington - Northwest Hills	37,400	38,100	38,200	38,500	36,400	-700	-1.8%	1,000	2.7%

* Less than					P = Preliminary		R = Revised

Note: 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.

Hours and Earnings: The January 2025 Private Sector average workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.2 hours (AWH). This is unchanged from the January 2025 average (0.0%). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $38.94 in January 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.89 (5.1%) from the January 2024 estimate of $37.05. The resulting January 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE) were estimated at $1,292.81, higher by $62.75 (5.1%) from a year ago ($1,230.06).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Jan		CHG	Dec	Jan		CHG	Dec	Jan		CHG	Dec
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2025	2024	Y/Y	2024	2025	2024	Y/Y	2024	2025	2024	Y/Y	2024
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,224.16	$1,191.51	$32.65	$1,247.40	39.4	38.9	0.5	39.4	$31.07	$30.63	$0.44	$31.66
DURABLE GOODS	1,305.72	1,279.10	26.62	1,311.16	39.0	39.2	-0.2	38.7	33.48	32.63	0.85	33.88
NON-DUR. GOODS	992.99	940.48	52.51	1,064.48	40.3	38.2	2.1	41.5	24.64	24.62	0.02	25.65
CONSTRUCTION	1,562.22	1,445.14	117.08	1,560.21	39.6	37.4	2.2	39.3	39.45	38.64	0.81	39.70

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,292.81	1,230.06	62.75	1,311.78	33.2	33.2	0.0	33.8	38.94	37.05	1.89	38.81
GOODS PRODUCING	1,556.70	1,488.03	68.67	1,563.39	39.5	39.2	0.3	39.4	39.41	37.96	1.45	39.68
Construction	1,625.79	1,478.99	146.80	1,590.19	38.2	36.8	1.4	37.7	42.56	40.19	2.37	42.18
Manufacturing	1,506.56	1,467.81	38.75	1,517.33	40.1	39.1	1.0	39.7	37.57	37.54	0.03	38.22
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,246.76	1,183.21	63.55	1,267.06	32.1	32.1	0.0	32.8	38.84	36.86	1.98	38.63
Trade, Transp., Utilities	994.11	939.63	54.48	1,003.75	31.7	31.3	0.4	32.6	31.36	30.02	1.34	30.79
Financial Activities	2,135.64	2,216.01	-80.37	2,171.67	37.0	37.9	-0.9	38.2	57.72	58.47	-0.75	56.85
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,649.33	1,487.24	162.09	1,676.33	35.5	34.7	0.8	36.3	46.46	42.86	3.60	46.18
Education & Health Ser.	1,165.78	1,138.17	27.61	1,176.55	32.5	33.0	-0.5	32.7	35.87	34.49	1.38	35.98
Leisure & Hospitality	615.26	582.00	33.26	625.30	25.7	25.0	0.7	26.0	23.94	23.28	0.66	24.05
Other Services	850.87	917.47	-66.60	871.07	28.1	30.4	-2.3	28.3	30.28	30.18	0.10	30.78

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,325.12	1,294.22	30.90	1,355.08	32.8	32.6	0.2	33.7	40.40	39.70	0.70	40.21
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,316.11	1,273.34	42.77	1,338.04	33.6	33.5	0.1	34.3	39.17	38.01	1.16	39.01
New Haven	1,213.27	1,147.52	65.75	1,221.43	32.8	32.6	0.2	33.2	36.99	35.20	1.79	36.79
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,137.95	1,041.54	96.41	1,141.81	32.1	31.9	0.2	32.3	35.45	32.65	2.80	35.35
Waterbury-Shelton	1,154.16	1,024.49	129.67	1,142.61	33.6	32.4	1.2	33.4	34.35	31.62	2.73	34.21
								P = Preliminary		R = Revised

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) for January 2025 was up 3.0% from a year ago.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary January 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.3% (seasonally adjusted). This is up from December 2024 when it was 3.2%. After the LAUS Annual Processing, CT’s unemployment rate was unchanged (3.3%) from a year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate for January 2025 was 4.0%, down one-tenth of one percent from the December 2024 rate and higher over the year from 3.7% in January 2025.

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
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
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 January 2025 were 4,059. This is 1,436 (-26.1%) claims lower than December 2024 (5,495) and lower by 180 claims (-4.2%) than the January 2024 (4,239) 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
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
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: Monday, March 27, 2025 (February 2025, preliminary data)

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