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.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In September, Delaware added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Delaware’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Delaware rose by 495, and over the past 12 months it rose by 459.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.1 percent in September from 59 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Delaware added 600 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,100 jobs. Delaware 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. Delaware is tied for 31st 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 State and Local Government (+800) and Private Education and Health Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Manufacturing (-200).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,600) and Other Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-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 rose to 59.1 percent in September from 59 percent in the prior month.

• 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 62.4 percent in September.