March 2025 | Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
Connecticut Employment Snapshot
In March, Connecticut lost 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 1,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 6,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Connecticut’s private sector lost 4,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Connecticut fell by 3,755, and over the past 12 months it rose by 15,397.
Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.9 percent in March from 65 percent and is tied for 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.
Connecticut Payroll Employment
Connecticut lost 4,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 1,700 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Connecticut lost 4,800 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 1,600 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Connecticut is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during March were Government (300) and Financial Activities (200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,800) and Education and Health Services (-2,100).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,800) and Financial Activities (2,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-700) and Manufacturing (-1,900).
Connecticut Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Connecticut fell to 64.9 percent in March from 65 percent in the prior month.
Connecticut is tied for 16th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Connecticut was 66.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in May 2021.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.