Employment rose in 5 of the 6 largest planning regions—a county-level equivalent—in Connecticut from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large planning regions are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations William J. Sibley noted that the South Central Connecticut Planning Region had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.1 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest planning regions in Connecticut, March 2024

County	Percent change, March 2024
South Central Connecticut	3.1
Western Connecticut	2.7
Southeastern Connecticut	2.3
Greater Bridgeport	1.7
Capitol	1.6
Naugatuck Valley	-0.1

National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Among the six largest planning regions in Connecticut, employment was highest in the Capitol Planning Region (515,100) in March 2024. Within the Capitol Planning Region’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Connecticut planning regions accounted for 88.6 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three planning regions in Connecticut with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in the smaller planning regions were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Five of the six large Connecticut planning regions reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) The Western Connecticut Planning Region had the largest gain (+7.1 percent), followed by the Capitol Planning Region (+5.0 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Connecticut’s other large planning regions ranged from 2.6 percent to 2.2 percent. By contrast, the Southeastern Planning Region reported an over-the-year loss (-1.3 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest planning regions in Connecticut, first quarter 2024

County	Percent change, first quarter 2024
Western Connecticut	7.1
Capitol	5.0
South Central Connecticut	2.6
Naugatuck Valley	2.5
Greater Bridgeport	2.2
Southeastern Connecticut	-1.3

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Weekly wages in 2 of the 6 largest planning regions in Connecticut were above the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in these two planning regions ranked among the top 50 nationwide: Western Connecticut ($3,299, 5^th) and Capitol ($1,776, 41^st).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Smaller planning region average weekly wages

Among the three smaller planning regions in Connecticut—those with employment below 75,000—Lower Connecticut River Valley ($1,399), Northwest Hills ($1,223), and Northeastern Connecticut ($1,122) reported average weekly wages below the national average.

When all nine planning regions in Connecticut were considered, two reported average weekly wages of less than $1,250, three registered wages from $1,250 to $1,449, two had wages from $1,450 to $1,649, and two had average weekly wages of $1,650 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying planning regions were located in the southwestern and central northern areas of the state. The lower-paying planning regions, those with weekly wages under $1,250, were concentrated in the northern corners of the state.