Haddam, East Haddam & Killingworth's September Employment Data Released, Here's What The Numbers Reveal

HADDAM, CT — Haddam's unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in September from 3.7 percent in August, East Haddam's rose to 4.4 percent from 3.9 percent, and Killingworth's rose to 4.5 percent from 3.7 percent, according to data released Monday by the Connecticut Department of Labor.

All three 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.

Haddam had 193 unemployed residents out of a labor force of 4,703 in September, compared with 168 of 4,591 in August. East Haddam had 201 unemployed residents out of a labor force of 4,558 in September, compared with 172 of 4,445 in August. Killingworth had 138 unemployed residents out of a labor force of 3,043 in September, compared with 109 of 2,958 in August. The August estimates were published last month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Haddam, East Haddam And Killingworth Compared With Their Neighbors And The State

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.

Haddam's 4.1 percent rate was higher than in 45 of the state's 169 towns and lower than in 114. East Haddam's 4.4 percent was higher than in 77 and lower than in 80. Killingworth's 4.5 percent was higher than in 89 and lower than in 66.

Nearby towns' rates included Deep River (3.3 percent), Lyme (3.5 percent), Clinton (3.9 percent), Chester (4.1 percent), Colchester (4.1 percent), Madison (4.1 percent), East Hampton (4.4 percent), Salem (4.4 percent) and Middletown (4.8 percent).

Statewide, town rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Warren to 8.5 percent in Waterbury.

Haddam's rate was 2.9 percent in September 2025, so it is up 1.2 percentage points over the year. East Haddam's rate was 3.7 percent in September 2025, so it is up seven-tenths of a percentage point over the year. Killingworth's rate was 3.2 percent in September 2025, so it is up 1.3 percentage points over the year. From August to September last year, Haddam's also rose, from 2.8 percent to 2.9 percent, East Haddam's also rose, from 3.6 percent to 3.7 percent, and Killingworth's also rose, from 2.8 percent to 3.2 percent.

All three 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.

State Rate Unchanged As Payrolls Reach A Record

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.

How September Compares With August

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.

The Numbers At A Glance

• Haddam unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 4.1 percent in September, up from 3.7 percent in August
• Haddam unemployed residents: 193 in September, up from 168 in August
• Haddam labor force: 4,703 in September, up from 4,591 in August
• East Haddam unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 4.4 percent in September, up from 3.9 percent in August
• East Haddam unemployed residents: 201 in September, up from 172 in August
• East Haddam labor force: 4,558 in September, up from 4,445 in August
• Killingworth unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 4.5 percent in September, up from 3.7 percent in August
• Killingworth unemployed residents: 138 in September, up from 109 in August
• Killingworth labor force: 3,043 in September, up from 2,958 in August
• Connecticut unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted): 5.1 percent in September, unchanged from 5.1 percent in August
• U.S. unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted): 4.2 percent in September, up from 4.1 percent in August
• Gap between Connecticut and the U.S.: nine-tenths of a point in September, down from 1 point in August
• Connecticut nonfarm jobs: up 1,400 in September, after a revised loss of 600 in August
• Hartford labor market area jobs: up 2,000 in September to 624,100

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.