(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today released the September labor situation report. Usually released in October, the report was delayed due to the federal government shutdown. While the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8%, September payrolls declined by an estimated 5,700 jobs and the labor force declined by 5,400. In August, total jobs reached a 17-year high and private sector jobs were at an all-time high.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “While monthly numbers fluctuate, September’s report may signal that Connecticut’s economy is feeling federal policy changes. Declines in the state’s labor force and September declines in Health Care and Social Assistance jobs suggest that immigration policy and federal funding cuts are affecting the labor market. With the federal government reopened, CTDOL will receive monthly economic data again and will be able to monitor the changes.”
CTDOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said, “While there are some positive takeaways from the September data, overall, this is a weak report. Connecticut is joining the national trend towards slower job growth. In this market it takes longer for job seekers to find a job—and they have more competition for what’s out there. This is consistent with national trends.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), that identifies the number of job openings in each state. With JOLTS unavailable during the federal shutdown, CTDOL continued to report on job postings data available through Help Wanted Online (HWOL), which shows about 80,000 open jobs in Connecticut. The August federal JOLTS report shows approximately 67,000 open jobs in the state.
Key takeaways from the Report:
• Payrolls decreased by 5,700 jobs in September. August was revised from 900 jobs added to 500 jobs added.
• Construction added 600 jobs and remains near its 16-year high.
• To date, employers have added a total of 4,500 jobs since September 2024.
• Health Care and Social Assistance lost an estimated 1,700 jobs in September. This remains Connecticut’s largest industry sector with more than 297,000 jobs.
CTDOL is monitoring this sector for potential impact from federal funding cuts.
• The labor force declined 5,400 in September and is down 12,800 since January. The labor force numbers include anyone working or looking for work.
• Unemployment filing is up slightly at 30,700 filers.
#DOLDaily video with CTDOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty: #DOLDaily Major Takeaways from August report
The October and November 2025 jobs data will be released Tuesday, January 6, 2026, after 11:00 a.m.
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For Immediate Release: December 10, 2025