April 2026

Released May 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In April, Connecticut added 5,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 5 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Connecticut’s private sector added 6,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Connecticut fell by 12,930, and over the past 12 months it fell by 51,230.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.2 percent in April from 63.5 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut added 5,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,400 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut added 6,200 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,300 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,600) and Manufacturing (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-500) and Financial Activities (-500).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+6,100) and Manufacturing (+1,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,600) and Federal Government (-1,000).

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 63.2 percent in April from 63.5 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Connecticut was 66.6 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in May 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.