August 2025

Released September 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 12, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 32 states and fell in 18. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Utah. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In August, Connecticut added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 12,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Connecticut is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Connecticut’s private sector added 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Connecticut fell by 3,118, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,303.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.6 percent in August from 64.7 percent and is tied for 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Connecticut added 800 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Connecticut is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut added 1,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Connecticut added 500 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Connecticut is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2025 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,700) and Manufacturing (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+5,300) and Professional and Business Services (+3,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,800) and Construction (-1,400).

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 64.6 percent in August from 64.7 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut is tied for 17th 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 62.3 percent in August.