July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In July, Connecticut added 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 13,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.3 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Connecticut is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Connecticut’s private sector added 3,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Connecticut fell by 7,081, and over the past 12 months it fell by 73,569.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.2 percent in July from 62.4 percent and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.8 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut added 2,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,700 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Connecticut is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut added 3,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Connecticut added 2,900 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Connecticut ranks 12th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,500) and Professional and Business Services (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100) and Other Services (-300).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,400) and Manufacturing (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,700).

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 62.2 percent in July from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut ranks 24th 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 61.4 percent in July.