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.

Florida

Employment snapshot

• In August, Florida lost 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Florida lost 9,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 98,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Florida’s private sector lost 4,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 85,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida lost 11,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Florida fell by 6,984, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,852.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.7 percent in August from 57.8 percent and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Florida

Payroll employment

• Florida lost 4,100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Florida lost 9,200 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida lost 4,200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Florida lost 11,100 jobs. Florida 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. Florida is tied for 18th 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 Construction (+3,600) and Information (+2,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-5,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,300).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+38,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+23,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,600) and Professional and Business Services (-300).

Florida

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 Florida fell to 57.7 percent in August from 57.8 percent in the prior month.

• Florida is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

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