August 2025 | Released September 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 12, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 32 states and fell in 18. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Utah. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In August, Alaska added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 4,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Alaska’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Alaska rose by 277, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,603.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.2 percent in August and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Alaska lost 100 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Alaska lost 100 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2025 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-500) and Private Education and Health Services (-300).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,900) and Construction (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Mining and Logging (-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 remained unchanged at 65.2 percent in August.

• Alaska ranks 12th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.6 percent in August 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 62.3 percent in August.