September 2025

Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Alabama

Employment snapshot

• In September, Alabama added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 21,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Alabama’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Alabama rose by 40, and over the past 12 months it rose by 28,752.

• Alabama’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.7 percent in September and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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Alabama

Payroll employment

• Alabama added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,900 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alabama lost 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,700 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+1,500) and State and Local Government (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,800) and State and Local Government (+7,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-3,200) and Federal Government (-1,700).

Alabama

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Alabama remained unchanged at 57.7 percent in September.

• Alabama is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 58 percent occurring in June 2025, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.