September 2025 | Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In September, Connecticut lost 5,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Connecticut’s private sector lost 5,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Connecticut fell by 6,245, and over the past 12 months it fell by 20,295.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.3 percent in September from 64.6 percent and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut lost 5,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Connecticut added 500 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut lost 5,700 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Connecticut added 800 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+600) and State and Local Government (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-1,800) and Financial Activities (-1,700).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,400) and State and Local Government (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500).

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 64.3 percent in September from 64.6 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut ranks 18th 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 62.4 percent in September.