EAST HAMPTON, CT — East Hampton's unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in September from 4 percent in August, and Portland's fell to 3.8 percent from 3.9 percent, according to data released Monday by the Connecticut Department of Labor.
Both towns' rates were below Connecticut's, which held at 5.1 percent for a second straight month. The state's rate has now topped the national rate of 4.2 percent for nine consecutive months.
East Hampton had 301 unemployed residents out of a labor force of 6,901 in September, compared with 269 of 6,742 in August. Portland had 192 unemployed residents out of a labor force of 4,999 in September, compared with 192 of 4,907 in August. The August estimates were published last month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The town figures come from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are not seasonally adjusted. On that same unadjusted basis, the statewide rate in September was 5.1 percent, with 96,521 of Connecticut's 1,907,124 labor force participants out of work.
East Hampton's 4.4 percent rate was higher than in 77 of the state's 169 towns and lower than in 80. Portland's 3.8 percent was higher than in 29 and lower than in 136.
Nearby towns' rates included Glastonbury (3.8 percent), Hebron (3.9 percent), Colchester (4.1 percent), Cromwell (4.1 percent), Haddam (4.1 percent), Marlborough (4.2 percent), East Haddam (4.4 percent) and Middletown (4.8 percent).
Statewide, town rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Warren to 8.5 percent in Waterbury.
East Hampton's rate was 3.1 percent in September 2025, so it is up 1.3 percentage points over the year. Portland's rate was 3.1 percent in September 2025, so it is up seven-tenths of a percentage point over the year. From August to September last year, East Hampton's fell, from 3.5 percent to 3.1 percent, and Portland's also fell, from 3.4 percent to 3.1 percent.
Both towns are part of the Hartford labor market area, which added 2,000 jobs in September, a 0.3 percent increase, to 624,100, leading the state's five major areas. The area is up 6,000 jobs, or 1 percent, from a year earlier.
Connecticut's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in September, the same as in August, the department said. A year earlier the rate was 4.2 percent.
The state's employers added 1,400 jobs in September, a 0.1 percent increase, bringing nonfarm employment to 1,731,600. The department said that's a new all-time high. Over the year, the state has gained 15,200 jobs, or 0.9 percent.
Last month's report had put August's job loss at 300. With Monday's revision, the department now says the state lost 600 jobs that month.
Six of the state's 10 major industry sectors added jobs in September. Education and health services led with 2,200, followed by manufacturing with 900 and trade, transportation and utilities with 800.
Professional and business services lost the most, 2,700 jobs. Other services lost 600 and information lost 400. Construction and mining was unchanged.
"Payroll jobs hit a new all-time high in September. Manufacturing has added more jobs than any other industry so far this year and construction remains at its highest level since May 2008," Patrick Flaherty, director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor, said in a statement. "The unemployment rate has been stable since late spring and unemployment insurance claims are below last year's level."
First-time unemployment claims averaged 1,842 a week in September, down 64.9 percent from September 2025, the department said.
Private sector average hourly earnings rose 2.1 percent over the year to $40.06. That trailed inflation: the national consumer price index was up 3.7 percent over the same period.
The labor department's monthly comparison of state and national unemployment rates shows Connecticut's seasonally adjusted rate at 5.1 percent in both August and September.
The state's rate climbed through the first half of the year, from 4.5 percent in January to a peak of 5.2 percent in June and July. It then eased to 5.1 percent in August and held there in September.
The national rate moved the other way last month. The U.S. rate rose to 4.2 percent in September from 4.1 percent in August, its first increase since February, according to federal figures in the state's comparison.
As a result, the gap between Connecticut and the nation narrowed to nine-tenths of a percentage point in September, down from a full point in August. The gap was widest in July, at 1.1 points.
Connecticut's rate has been higher than the national rate in every month of 2026, starting in January at 4.5 percent compared with 4.3 percent. A year ago, the state's rate was lower than the nation's: 4.1 percent compared with 4.3 percent in August 2025, and 4.2 percent compared with 4.4 percent in September 2025.
The comparison has no figures for October 2025. They weren't produced because of the 2025 federal government shutdown.
| Month (2026) | Connecticut | U.S. | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.5 percent | 4.3 percent | 0.2 points |
| February | 4.7 percent | 4.4 percent | 0.3 points |
| March | 4.8 percent | 4.3 percent | 0.5 points |
| April | 5.0 percent | 4.3 percent | 0.7 points |
| May | 5.1 percent | 4.3 percent | 0.8 points |
| June | 5.2 percent | 4.2 percent | 1.0 points |
| July | 5.2 percent | 4.1 percent | 1.1 points |
| August | 5.1 percent | 4.1 percent | 1.0 points |
| September | 5.1 percent | 4.2 percent | 0.9 points |
State and national rates are seasonally adjusted; town rates are not, so direct comparisons should be made with caution. All figures are preliminary and subject to revision. The department will release its preliminary October report on Thursday, Nov. 19.
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