April 2025

Released May 21, 2025

Released April 18, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Alabama Employment Snapshot

• In April, Alabama added 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 26,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, 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 April, Alabama’s private sector added 3,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 21,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Alabama rose by 7,208, and over the past 12 months it rose by 32,204.

• Alabama’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.9 percent in April from 57.8 percent and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Alabama Payroll Employment

• Alabama added 4,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,700 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, 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 added 3,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,600 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (0) and Construction (-1,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,500) and Government (5,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-100) and Professional and Business Services (-2,600).

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 rose to 57.9 percent in April from 57.8 percent in the prior month.

• Alabama is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.9 percent in April 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 62.6 percent in April.