May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

Connecticut Employment Snapshot

• In May, Connecticut lost 6,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Connecticut’s private sector lost 6,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Connecticut fell by 2,102, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,498.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65 percent in May and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Connecticut Payroll Employment

• Connecticut lost 6,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,800 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut lost 6,500 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,900 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 47th 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 May were Construction (900) and Leisure and Hospitality (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800) and Manufacturing (-3,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (6,800) and Financial Activities (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Manufacturing (-5,900).

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 remained unchanged at 65 percent in May.

• Connecticut is tied for 15th 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.