May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

Download the full PDF for Connecticut

Download the summary PDF for Connecticut

United States

Employment snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 20, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 22.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.

Connecticut

Employment snapshot

• In May, Connecticut added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Connecticut added 6,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.3 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Connecticut’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Connecticut added 5,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Connecticut fell by 12,674, and over the past 12 months it fell by 60,907.

• Connecticut’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.8 percent in May from 63.2 percent and ranks 22nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.

---

Connecticut

Payroll employment

• Connecticut added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Connecticut added 4,300 jobs. Connecticut nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Connecticut lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Connecticut added 5,900 jobs. Connecticut private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Connecticut is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From April 2026 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+6,300) and Manufacturing (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-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 62.8 percent in May from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Connecticut ranks 22nd 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 remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.