Southington's Employment Data Released, Here's What The Numbers Reveal

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Connecticut’s unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent in December, while total nonfarm employment declined by 500 jobs, according to data released Jan. 26 by the state Department of Labor.

Here are the statistics for Southington, based on numbers released through CTDOL's Local Area Unemployment Statistics program:

• Labor Force - 24,310
• Employed - 23,475
• Unemployed - 835
• Unemployment Rate - 3.4 percent.

Southington's unemployment rate is less than the state average of 4.1 percent.

Statewide, the jobless rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point from November and was up a full percentage point from December 2024.

Total nonfarm employment stood at 1,713,900 jobs, down 2,200 positions from a year earlier.

Connecticut continued to post a lower unemployment rate than the national average, which was 4.4 percent in December, marking the 36th consecutive month the state remained below the U.S. rate.

Private-sector employment fell by 1,000 jobs in December to 1,476,400 and was down 5,400 positions over the year.

Government employment rose by 500 jobs during the month to 237,500 and increased by 3,200 positions compared with December 2024, fully recovering from pandemic-era losses.

"There was considerable volatility in 2025 with national issues playing a role in dampening Connecticut’s job growth. Over the past year, Connecticut’s workforce declined; that makes it harder for employers to hire, and it reduces retail and services spending. Employers have around 70,000 open jobs in the state," said state DOL Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo.

Among major industry groups, professional and business services recorded the largest monthly gain, adding 700 jobs.

Other services rose by 400 jobs, while education and health services increased by 200. Employment was unchanged in the information sector.

Job losses were reported in financial activities, which declined by 700 positions, followed by manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and utilities, and construction.

Patrick Flaherty, director of the CTDOL Office of Research, said job growth was uneven throughout the year, with gains in six months and declines in the other six.

"Job growth was particularly weak in the second half of the year," Flaherty said, noting that health care and social assistance and professional, scientific and technical services posted the strongest gains in 2025, while retail trade experienced the largest annual decline.

Average hourly earnings in the private sector rose to $39.97 in December, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

Average weekly earnings increased to $1,350.99, also a 3 percent gain, slightly outpacing the annual inflation rate of 2.7 percent.

Regionally, nonfarm employment increased in the New Haven and Norwich–New London–Willimantic labor market areas during December, while job losses were recorded in the Bridgeport–Stamford–Danbury, Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford, and Waterbury–Shelton regions.

State labor officials noted that employment and unemployment figures are derived from separate surveys and may not move in the same direction month to month.

Revised and benchmarked data are expected to be released with the January 2026 report.

Here are the complete state statistics: