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.
Arizona
Employment snapshot
In August, Arizona added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arizona added 41,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Arizona’s private sector added 5,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,300 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Arizona rose by 2,825, and over the past 12 months it rose by 32,946.
Arizona’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.4 percent in August and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
Arizona
Payroll employment
Arizona added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,700 jobs. Arizona nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arizona added 5,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,300 jobs. Arizona private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 8th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,500) and Financial Activities (+1,400).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-4,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+25,000) and Financial Activities (+4,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-1,300) and Manufacturing (-1,100).
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 remained unchanged at 61.4 percent in August.
Arizona ranks 34th 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 62.3 percent in August.