Connecticut added 2,800 jobs in July 2026, and June’s initial total was revised upward, pushing state payrolls to a record 1,730,500
Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said the state’s job growth is outpacing the nation despite a 5.2% unemployment rate and a shrinking labor force
Connecticut lost 6,200 workers from its labor force in July, while General Dynamics Electric Boat plans to hire thousands more under a $77 billion federal contract
With 2,800 jobs added in Connecticut in July 2026, and June’s initial job total revised upward, the state’s payrolls reached a new all-time high this summer, state officials confirmed.
In Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo’s latest labor situation report, Connecticut added 2,800 jobs in July, and June’s initial report of 1,500 jobs was revised upward to 2,700 added. That’s 4,000 jobs added in those two months, bringing state payrolls to 1,730,500, a new record.
Bartolomeo noted Connecticut’s job growth is outpacing the rest of the United States with success across multiple industry sectors, though the state’s 5.2% unemployment rate and labor force declines pose a threat toward further long-term economic expansion. That said, the state’s economy remains stable, with the state’s job growth rate of 0.8% this year outpacing the national rate of 0.3%.
Department of Labor Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said Connecticut traditionally sees strong early-year growth that tapers off over the course of the year, though more than 80,000 open jobs indicate continued hiring demand in the state.
Connecticut lost 6,200 workers from its labor force in July, the report found. The report attributed the decline to retirements among older workers and to federal policy changes that have reduced the number of foreign workers and international students.
Healthcare, manufacturing and construction saw specific growth in Connecticut in 2026, and bright spots remain. NBC Connecticut reported General Dynamics Electric Boat hopes to hire as many as 8,000 employees after receiving a $77 billion federal submarine contract and has already hired more than 4,000 this year.
By Joe O’Leary
