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.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In August, District of Columbia lost 5,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 8,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 5.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, District of Columbia’s private sector lost 2,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in District of Columbia fell by 1,533, and over the past 12 months it rose by 289.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 71.6 percent in August from 71.9 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia lost 5,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.7 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 700 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia lost 2,800 private sector jobs, or -0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, District of Columbia remained unchanged with 0 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 49th 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 Other Services (+200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,900) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,000) and Other Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,100) and Professional and Business Services (-4,700).

District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia fell to 71.6 percent in August from 71.9 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 72.9 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

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