The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at 14.7% in April 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was rapidly changing, with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary—workers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
Stacker compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area using data from U.S. Census Bureau. Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Hartford are the surest bets for employment.
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Hartford
1 / 19
#19. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 738 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +392.0%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
2 / 19
#18. Management of companies and enterprises
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 1,010 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +448.9%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
3 / 19
#17. Utilities
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 3,922 (0.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -34.6%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
4 / 19
#16. Real estate and rental and leasing
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 7,758 (1.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -23.0%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
5 / 19
#15. Information
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 11,619 (1.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -21.4%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Hartford?
6 / 19
#14. Wholesale trade
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 15,708 (2.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.0%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
7 / 19
#13. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 16,207 (2.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +59.7%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
8 / 19
#12. Administrative and support and waste management services
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 18,883 (3.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -15.1%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
9 / 19
#11. Public administration
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 23,843 (3.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -18.5%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
10 / 19
#10. Transportation and warehousing
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 25,703 (4.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +47.7%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Hartford
11 / 19
#9. Other services, except public administration
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 26,292 (4.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +6.3%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
12 / 19
#8. Construction
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 34,844 (5.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +11.3%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
13 / 19
#7. Accommodation and food services
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 39,029 (6.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +0.1%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
14 / 19
#6. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 43,758 (7.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +19.0%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
15 / 19
#5. Finance and insurance
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 48,555 (7.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -11.0%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
You may also like: Highest-rated comfort food restaurants in Hartford by diners
16 / 19
#4. Retail trade
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 62,544 (10.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -2.1%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
17 / 19
#3. Manufacturing
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 65,269 (10.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +0.9%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
18 / 19
#2. Educational services
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 74,157 (11.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.4%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
19 / 19
#1. Health care and social assistance
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT Metro Area
- Employed: 103,273 (16.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.4%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
