Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: May 20, 2025

April jobs rebound 6,900 while the CT unemployment rate ticks up one-tenth to 3.7%

	WETHERSFIELD, May 20, 2025 - Connecticut nonfarm payrolls rallied 6,900 jobs (0.4%) in April 2025, after two months of job losses, to a level of 1,718,700, even as the state's jobless rate was up one-tenth of one percent to 3.7% (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). This is a new post-Covid high for statewide nonfarm industry employment. Nonfarm industry employment in the state is 12,000 (0.7%) positions higher than a year ago (1,706,700). The March 2025 preliminary job loss of 4,500 (-0.3%) was lessened some by 400 to a 4,100 jobs decline (-0.2%) on the normal monthly revision. The April 2025 preliminary Connecticut jobless rate, calculated at 3.7%, is up one-tenth of one percent from March 2025 (3.6%) and higher by six-tenths of one percent from a year ago (3.1%). This labor statistics release displays current estimated data from two different monthly surveys (residential and establishment) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in partnership with the states.

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment was the key driver, higher by 6,800 positions (0.5%) in April 2025 to 1,483,600 and is now up 13,500 jobs (0.9%) from the April 2024 level of 1,470,100. March's preliminary private sector drop of 4,800 jobs (-0.3%) was adjusted up by 200 to a 4,600 decline ( 0.3%). Private education (student laborer returns) and the services to buildings and dwellings portion of administrative & support services recouped March declines in April. The aggregate government supersector was up 100 positions (0.04%) in April to a level of 235,100 jobs but is now lower by 1,500 (-0.6%) positions over the year. Connecticut's combined 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.

Seven of the ten major industry supersectors gained jobs in April 2025, while three declined.

The seven industry supersectors that increased employment in April 2025 included:

Professional and Business Services +3,300 1.5% 223,300
Education & Health Services +1,800 0.5% 372,000
Trade, Transportation & Utilities +1,700 0.6% 302,100
Other Services +400 0.6% 64,300
Leisure & Hospitality +200 0.1% 155,600
Construction & Mining +100 0.2% 62,500
Government +100 0.04% 235,100

The three industry supersector that declined in jobs in April 2025 were:

Financial Activities -400 -0.3% 119,200
Information -200 -0.7% 30,300
Manufacturing -100 -0.1% 154,300

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

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

CONNECTICUT	1,718,700	1,711,800	1,715,900	1,717,600	1,706,700	6,900	0.4%	12,000	0.7%
Total Private	1,483,600	1,476,800	1,481,400	1,483,000	1,470,100	6,800	0.5%	13,500	0.9%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	62,000	61,900	62,200	62,300	63,000	100	0.2%	-1,000	-1.6%
Manufacturing	154,300	154,400	154,700	155,200	156,400	-100	-0.1%	-2,100	-1.3%
Durable Goods	121,100	121,200	121,600	121,700	122,700	-100	-0.1%	-1,600	-1.3%
Nondurable Goods	33,200	33,200	33,100	33,500	33,700	0	0.0%	-500	-1.5%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	302,100	300,400	299,900	300,100	298,800	1,700	0.6%	3,300	1.1%
Wholesale	61,700	61,400	61,300	61,600	60,900	300	0.5%	800	1.3%
Retail	166,400	165,600	164,800	164,900	166,200	800	0.5%	200	0.1%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	74,000	73,400	73,800	73,600	71,700	600	0.8%	2,300	3.2%
Information	30,300	30,500	30,400	30,500	30,700	-200	-0.7%	-400	-1.3%
Financial Activities	119,200	119,600	119,500	119,300	117,700	-400	-0.3%	1,500	1.3%
Finance & Insurance	99,100	99,600	99,400	99,300	98,100	-500	-0.5%	1,000	1.0%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	20,100	20,000	20,100	20,000	19,600	100	0.5%	500	2.6%
Professional & Business Services	223,300	220,000	221,800	222,700	220,500	3,300	1.5%	2,800	1.3%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	102,200	101,700	101,700	101,900	101,000	500	0.5%	1,200	1.2%
Management of Companies	30,800	30,900	30,800	30,900	31,000	-100	-0.3%	-200	-0.6%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	90,300	87,400	89,300	89,900	88,500	2,900	3.3%	1,800	2.0%
Educational & Health Services	372,000	370,200	372,300	371,900	364,500	1,800	0.5%	7,500	2.1%
Private Educational Services	74,500	72,600	74,700	74,700	73,500	1,900	2.6%	1,000	1.4%
Health Care & Social Assistance	297,500	297,600	297,600	297,200	291,000	-100	0.0%	6,500	2.2%
Leisure and Hospitality	155,600	155,400	155,900	156,300	154,400	200	0.1%	1,200	0.8%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	27,400	27,500	27,600	27,800	28,700	-100	-0.4%	-1,300	-4.5%
Accommodation & Food Services	128,200	127,900	128,300	128,500	125,700	300	0.2%	2,500	2.0%
Other Services	64,300	63,900	64,200	64,200	63,600	400	0.6%	700	1.1%
Government**	235,100	235,000	234,500	234,600	236,600	100	0.0%	-1,500	-0.6%
UNITED STATES	159,517,000	159,340,000	159,155,000	159,053,000	157,635,000	177,000	0.1%	1,882,000	1.2%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): All five of the new major Connecticut LMAs (the 5 Metros formed from the CT Councils of Governments or COG regions) that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (about 93.5% of the state) grew nonfarm payroll jobs in April 2025. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (0.6%, 411,700) led in April numeric job gains adding 2,400 positions. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (0.4%, 609,600) added 2,200 positions. The New Haven LMA (0.7%, 294,900) led in monthly percentage gains, adding 2,000 jobs, bouncing back from a 1,900 loss last month. The Waterbury-Shelton LMA (0.5%, 162,000) was also up 800 on payrolls and the Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (0.2%, 128,500) chipped in 200.

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

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)	April	March	February	January	April	Over Month		Over Year
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MSAs)	2025 P	2025 R	2025	2025	2024	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	411,700	409,300	408,900	410,400	407,700	2,400	0.6%	4,000	1.0%
Hartford	609,600	607,400	607,200	609,000	608,600	2,200	0.4%	1,000	0.2%
New Haven	294,900	292,900	294,800	295,800	293,600	2,000	0.7%	1,300	0.4%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	128,500	128,300	128,500	128,700	127,100	200	0.2%	1,400	1.1%
Waterbury - Shelton	162,000	161,200	161,300	161,600	160,400	800	0.5%	1,600	1.0%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non
Putnam - Northeastern	28,500	28,100	28,000	28,200	29,000	400	1.4%	-500	-1.7%
Torrington - Northwest Hills	37,600	37,000	37,100	37,400	36,900	600	1.6%	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								April 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. As a result, 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).

Hours and Earnings: The April 2025 Private Sector average work week, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.5 hours (AWH). This is down one-tenth of an hour from the April 2024 average (-0.3%, 33.6). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $38.43 in April 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $0.74 (2.0%) from the April 2024 estimate of $37.69. The resulting April 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE) were estimated at $1,287.41, higher by $21.03 (1.7%) from a year ago ($1,266.38). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted - all items index) for April 2025 was up 2.3% from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Apr		CHG	Mar	Apr		CHG	Mar	Apr		CHG	Mar
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,201.96	$1,228.64	-$26.68	$1,234.28	39.8	38.6	1.2	40.1	$30.20	$31.83	-$1.63	$30.78
DURABLE GOODS	1,249.08	1,309.77	-60.69	1,282.62	38.9	38.5	0.4	39.2	32.11	34.02	-1.91	32.72
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,069.73	998.95	70.77	1,086.29	42.5	38.9	3.6	42.7	25.17	25.68	-0.51	25.44
CONSTRUCTION	1,555.36	1,459.37	96.00	1,581.60	38.3	37.7	0.6	39.1	40.61	38.71	1.90	40.45

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,287.41	1,266.38	21.03	1,306.61	33.5	33.6	-0.1	33.4	38.43	37.69	0.74	39.12
GOODS PRODUCING	1,535.77	1,494.21	41.56	1,544.81	38.5	38.6	-0.1	38.2	39.89	38.71	1.18	40.44
Construction	1,617.46	1,502.34	115.12	1,617.92	37.2	36.5	0.7	37.4	43.48	41.16	2.32	43.26
Manufacturing	1,484.41	1,459.53	24.88	1,485.69	39.5	38.9	0.6	38.7	37.58	37.52	0.06	38.39
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,243.04	1,225.60	17.44	1,266.84	32.6	32.7	-0.1	32.6	38.13	37.48	0.65	38.86
Trade, Transp., Utilities	1,025.90	972.87	53.03	1,004.56	31.9	31.7	0.2	31.8	32.16	30.69	1.47	31.59
Financial Activities	2,143.64	2,219.96	-76.32	2,170.94	37.1	38.0	-0.9	38.1	57.78	58.42	-0.64	56.98
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,578.96	1,584.07	-5.11	1,641.67	36.0	36.1	-0.1	36.2	43.86	43.88	-0.02	45.35
Education & Health Ser.	1,198.22	1,130.77	67.45	1,192.29	32.9	32.7	0.2	33.0	36.42	34.58	1.84	36.13
Leisure & Hospitality	649.97	614.64	35.33	634.92	26.4	26.0	0.4	26.0	24.62	23.64	0.98	24.42
Other Services	862.51	934.51	-72.00	863.08	28.4	30.7	-2.3	28.4	30.37	30.44	-0.07	30.39

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,325.68	1,305.46	20.22	1,377.08	33.2	33.1	0.1	33.4	39.93	39.44	0.49	41.23
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,287.41	1,293.29	-5.88	1,313.76	33.5	33.9	-0.4	33.6	38.43	38.15	0.28	39.10
New Haven	1,271.66	1,186.64	85.02	1,241.02	33.5	32.6	0.9	33.2	37.96	36.40	1.56	37.38
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,145.66	1,087.72	57.94	1,155.01	32.4	32.2	0.2	32.2	35.36	33.78	1.58	35.87
Waterbury-Shelton	1,165.88	1,090.32	75.56	1,163.14	34.1	33.6	0.5	34.2	34.19	32.45	1.74	34.01

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) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after falling 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.3 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 April 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 3.7% (seasonally adjusted). This is up one-tenth of a percentage point from March 2025 (3.6%). CT's unemployment rate is up six-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago (3.1%). The U.S. unemployment rate for April 2025 was 4.2%, unchanged from the March 2025 rate (4.2%) but higher over the year from 3.9% in April 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	5.3	4.8	-0.5	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.2	4.0	-0.2	3.7	4.0	0.3	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.2	6.4	-0.8	4.8	4.0	-0.8	3.4	3.5	0.1	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.3	4.0	0.7
Feb	5.2	4.9	-0.3	4.5	4.6	0.1	4.2	4.1	-0.1	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.2	6.2	-1.0	4.6	3.8	-0.8	3.3	3.6	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	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	3.5	3.8	0.3	3.9	4.4	0.5	7.2	6.1	-1.1	4.4	3.7	-0.7	3.2	3.5	0.3	3.2	3.9	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	14.8	6.5	7.2	6.1	-1.1	4.3	3.7	-0.6	3.1	3.4	0.3	3.1	3.9	0.8	3.7	4.2	0.5
May	5.0	4.8	-0.2	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.9	3.8	-0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.9	13.2	1.3	7.0	5.8	-1.2	4.2	3.6	-0.6	3.1	3.6	0.5	3.1	4.0	0.9
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	7.0	5.9	-1.1	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.0	3.6	0.6	3.1	4.1	1.0
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	6.6	5.4	-1.2	3.9	3.5	-0.4	3.1	3.5	0.4	3.1	4.2	1.1
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	6.3	5.1	-1.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.1	3.7	0.6	3.2	4.2	1.0
Sep	4.7	5.0	0.3	4.3	4.3	0.0	3.8	3.7	-0.1	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.8	-1.0	5.9	4.7	-1.2	3.7	3.5	-0.2	3.2	3.8	0.6	3.2	4.1	0.9
Oct	4.6	4.9	0.3	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	7.9	6.9	-1.0	5.6	4.5	-1.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.3	3.9	0.6	3.2	4.1	0.9
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	4.2	-1.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.2	4.2	1.0
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	5.0	3.9	-1.1	3.5	3.5	0.0	3.3	3.8	0.5	3.2	4.1	0.9

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. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. 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 April 2025 were 3,322. This is 788 (31.1%) claims higher than March 2025 (2,534) but just slightly lower by a small 2 claims (-0.1%) than the April 2024 (3,324) level, a year ago.

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	1,928.9	1,858.3	70.6	1,938.8	1,865.6	73.3	1,811.7	1,680.9	130.8	1,952.9	1,859.1	93.8	1,905.2	1,840.3	64.9	1,926.9	1,863.3	63.6	1,957.3	1,893.4	63.8
Feb	1,928.1	1,858.6	69.5	1,933.3	1,858.9	74.4	1,809.0	1,678.7	130.2	1,948.9	1,860.0	88.9	1,905.5	1,842.7	62.8	1,929.7	1,867.2	62.5	1,957.1	1,890.7	66.4
Mar	1,927.2	1,859.0	68.2	1,927.1	1,851.7	75.4	1,807.6	1,678.0	129.6	1,944.4	1,859.6	84.8	1,906.3	1,845.3	61.0	1,933.0	1,871.5	61.4	1,956.4	1,886.9	69.5
Apr	1,927.0	1,859.8	67.2	1,830.8	1,678.9	151.9	1,808.7	1,678.3	130.4	1,940.4	1,857.6	82.8	1,907.5	1,848.0	59.5	1,936.4	1,875.6	60.8	1,960.2	1,888.0	72.2
May	1,928.0	1,861.3	66.7	1,905.1	1,679.3	225.8	1,806.6	1,679.6	127.0	1,934.9	1,854.3	80.6	1,909.0	1,850.5	58.5	1,939.9	1,879.4	60.5
Jun	1,930.2	1,863.4	66.9	1,896.4	1,678.4	218.0	1,828.9	1,701.8	127.1	1,927.7	1,849.7	78.0	1,911.1	1,853.0	58.1	1,943.0	1,882.4	60.5
Jul	1,933.2	1,865.4	67.8	1,905.1	1,682.8	222.3	1,845.4	1,723.3	122.1	1,919.6	1,844.6	75.0	1,913.8	1,855.2	58.6	1,946.1	1,885.1	60.9
Aug	1,936.3	1,867.3	68.9	1,864.0	1,685.3	178.7	1,863.2	1,745.5	117.7	1,911.6	1,840.2	71.5	1,916.3	1,856.6	59.7	1,949.5	1,888.0	61.5
Sep	1,939.2	1,869.4	69.8	1,852.5	1,689.0	163.5	1,878.9	1,767.3	111.6	1,908.9	1,837.4	71.5	1,918.5	1,857.3	61.3	1,952.8	1,890.8	62.0
Oct	1,941.6	1,871.0	70.5	1,833.0	1,688.5	144.5	1,897.6	1,790.5	107.2	1,907.0	1,836.3	70.7	1,920.5	1,857.8	62.7	1,955.4	1,893.0	62.4
Nov	1,943.0	1,871.6	71.3	1,824.6	1,687.0	137.6	1,915.0	1,813.5	101.5	1,905.8	1,836.6	69.2	1,922.4	1,858.7	63.7	1,955.9	1,893.4	62.5
Dec	1,942.2	1,869.9	72.3	1,819.8	1,684.2	135.6	1,934.2	1,836.5	97.6	1,905.4	1,838.2	67.1	1,924.5	1,860.4	64.1	1,955.6	1,893.2	62.5


	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. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. 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, June 23, 2025 (Preliminary May 2025 data)

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