Connecticut employers added a modest 500 jobs in May as payroll employment reached an all-time high of 1,724,400, though the state’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 5.1%, the state Department of Labor reported Monday. The May gain was far below April’s revised figure of 4,300 jobs — a significant downward revision from an earlier […]
Connecticut employers added a modest 500 jobs in May as payroll employment reached an all-time high of 1,724,400, though the state’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 5.1%, the state Department of Labor reported Monday.
The May gain was far below April’s revised figure of 4,300 jobs — a significant downward revision from an earlier estimate of 5,700. The unemployment rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point from April, but DOL officials said the uptick reflects employer caution rather than layoffs, as unemployment claims remain low.
“Connecticut’s economy remains stable with employers adding jobs again this month,” Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “Job seekers remain challenged by slower hiring — it takes longer to find a job than it did in recent years, but employers are adding jobs across industries.”
The top-gaining sectors in May were private education, local government, and arts, entertainment and recreation. Sectors that shed jobs included professional, scientific and technical services; administrative and support services; and retail trade. DOL noted that most of the April downward revision stemmed from government-sector losses, though that sector has been relatively flat overall in 2026.
Connecticut has added 7,400 jobs through the first five months of the year.
DOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said that pace has outrun national job growth so far in 2026, despite some monthly volatility. Manufacturing has been a bright spot this year even with a small May decline, he added.
