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.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In September, Alaska lost 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Alaska’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska lost 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Alaska rose by 529, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,039.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.3 percent in September from 65.2 percent and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska lost 900 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,400 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska lost 200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alaska lost 300 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 13th 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 Professional and Business Services (+500) and Manufacturing (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+1,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-600).

Alaska

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 Alaska rose to 65.3 percent in September from 65.2 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 12th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.5 percent in September 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

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