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.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In August, Delaware added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 3,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Delaware’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Delaware rose by 173, and over the past 12 months it fell by 56.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59 percent in August and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Delaware added 400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 jobs. Delaware 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. Delaware is tied for 26th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+600) and Private Education and Health Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-200) and Manufacturing (-100).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-300) and Federal Government (-300).

Delaware

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 Delaware remained unchanged at 59 percent in August.

• Delaware ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 58.9 percent occurring in June 2025.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.