Employment declined in 5 of the 6 largest planning regions in Connecticut from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Connecticut employment decreased 0.4 percent over the year to 1,668,200 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (-1.5 percent) had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment. (See chart 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest planning regions in Connecticut, March 2026

County	Percent change, March 2026
Naugatuck Valley	-1.5
Greater Bridgeport	-0.9
Western Connecticut	-0.3
South Central Connecticut	-0.2
Capitol	-0.1
Southeastern Connecticut	0.7

The Capitol Planning Region (526,800) had the highest employment level in Connecticut in March 2026. Together, the six largest planning regions accounted for 88.8 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties and county equivalents (including planning regions) comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)

Average weekly wage gains in 3 of the 6 large planning regions in Connecticut were above the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Western Connecticut had the largest gain (+9.2 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other five large Connecticut planning regions ranged from 4.7 percent to 0.2 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 2026

County	Percent change, first quarter 2026
Western Connecticut	9.2
Capitol	4.7
South Central Connecticut	4.0
Greater Bridgeport	1.6
Naugatuck Valley	0.7
Southeastern Connecticut	0.2

Weekly wages in 2 of the 6 largest planning regions in Connecticut were above the national average of $1,654: Western Connecticut ($3,797) and Capitol ($1,874). Average weekly wages among the other four large planning regions ranged from $1,602 in South Central Connecticut to $1,456 in Naugatuck Valley.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 5.2 percent over the year to $2,080. Connecticut ranked 4^th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 5^th in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three smaller planning regions in Connecticut, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller planning regions were below the national average: Lower Connecticut River Valley ($1,441), Northwest Hills ($1,274), and Northeastern Connecticut ($1,181).

Among all 9 Connecticut planning regions, 3 reported average weekly wages less than $1,450, 2 had wages from $1,450 to $1,524, 1 had wages from $1,525 to $1,599, and 3 had average weekly wages of $1,600 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)