March 2026 | Released May 06, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 14, rose in 10, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In March, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Tennessee. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Hawaii, Montana, and Oregon.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In March, Connecticut added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 4,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.1 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Connecticut’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 3,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Connecticut fell by 9,969, and over the past 12 months it fell by 41,037.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.5 percent in March from 63.7 percent and is tied for 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 4,000 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Connecticut lost 3,900 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From February 2026 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Other Services (+1,400) and Manufacturing (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+6,300) and Construction (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,000).

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 63.5 percent in March from 63.7 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut is tied for 19th 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 61.9 percent in March.