Connecticut employers added an estimated 1,400 jobs in September, bringing the state's payroll count to 1,731,600, the Department of Labor reported Oct. 19. The unemployment rate remained at 5.1%.
The department described both total payroll employment and the private-sector count of 1,496,700 as new highs. It also revised August's estimate to a loss of 600 jobs.
Manufacturing employment reached 157,700. The industry had added 6,500 jobs since the start of 2026, more than any other industry in the state, according to the department.
Six broad industry groups added jobs in September. Private education rebounded after an August decline, while administrative and support services lost jobs. The department said a late Labor Day may have affected education reporting and seasonal changes likely influenced services such as landscaping.
The labor force, which includes people working or looking for work, increased by 3,500. The share of the population in the labor force was 62.1%.
The state also counted more than 90,000 online job postings, but cautioned that remote positions can appear in several locations and employers may not be hiring immediately for every listing. The October labor report is scheduled for Nov. 19.
Sources: Connecticut Labor Department's September employment release.