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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In September, Hawaii lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 9,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii ranks 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Hawaii’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Hawaii rose by 848, and over the past 12 months it rose by 8,423.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 60.4 percent in September and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,100 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii ranks 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 500 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,000 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 3rd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000) and Other Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) and State and Local Government (-600).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+5,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,300) and Federal Government (-1,600).

Hawaii

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 Hawaii remained unchanged at 60.4 percent in September.

• Hawaii ranks 38th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.