August 2026 | Released September 18, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In August, Connecticut lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 3,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 15,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Connecticut’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 3,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Connecticut fell by 2,040, and over the past 12 months it fell by 72,428.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in August from 62.2 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Connecticut added 3,100 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Connecticut added 3,400 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut ranks 13th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2026 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,100) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Information (-500).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,100) and Manufacturing (+4,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).

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 fell to 62 percent in August from 62.2 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut is tied for 26th 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.