Employment increased in four of the six largest planning regions in Connecticut between March 2024 and March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mark J. Maggi, Acting Regional Commissioner, stated, “The Capitol and Southeastern Connecticut Planning Regions had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, each with a gain of 0.8 percent.”
In March 2025, the Capitol Planning Region reported the highest employment among these areas, with 526,300 jobs. The six largest planning regions together represented 88.9 percent of all covered employment in Connecticut during this period. In comparison, across the United States, the largest counties account for about 73.4 percent of total covered employment.
All six major planning regions in Connecticut saw increases in average weekly wages over the year. Western Connecticut recorded the highest wage growth at 5.6 percent, while gains in other large regions ranged from 4.7 percent to 1.6 percent.
Average weekly wages were above the national average of $1,589 in two of Connecticut’s largest planning regions. Wages ranged from $3,483 per week in Western Connecticut to $1,443 per week in Naugatuck Valley.
Data for three smaller planning regions—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—showed that all had average weekly wages below the national figure. Lower Connecticut River Valley posted the highest wage among them at $1,427 per week; Northeastern Connecticut had the lowest at $1,163 per week.
Across all nine planning regions in Connecticut, four reported average weekly wages under $1,450; one region had wages between $1,450 and $1,499; two were between $1,500 and $1,549; and two reported average weekly wages of $1,550 or more.
Additional state-level QCEW data are available in table 3 included with this release. National data on county employment and wages can be found through the County Employment and Wages news release as well as on the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew/).
Technical information about quarterly employment and wage data is provided through a Technical Note accompanying this release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.tn.htm).
Information for individuals with sensory impairments is available upon request by contacting (202) 691-5200 or using Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
The next County Employment and Wages release covering second quarter 2025 is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
“The Capitol and Southeastern Connecticut Planning Regions had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, each with a gain of 0.8 percent.” — Mark J. Maggi
