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.
Arizona
Employment snapshot
In September, Arizona added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arizona added 32,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Arizona’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 35,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 4,700 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Arizona rose by 10,724, and over the past 12 months it rose by 42,298.
Arizona’s labor force participation rate rose to 61.6 percent in September from 61.4 percent and ranks 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.
Arizona
Payroll employment
Arizona added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Arizona added 1,600 jobs. Arizona 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. Arizona is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arizona added 900 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Arizona added 4,700 jobs. Arizona 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. Arizona 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 (+2,000) and State and Local Government (+1,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+22,200) and Financial Activities (+4,500).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-2,400) and Information (-2,000).
Arizona
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 Arizona rose to 61.6 percent in September from 61.4 percent in the prior month.
Arizona ranks 32nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arizona was 62.2 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 60 percent occurring in November 2015.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.