April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Hawaii Employment Snapshot

• In April, Hawaii added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 3,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 17,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Hawaii’s private sector added 3,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Hawaii rose by 2,074, and over the past 12 months it rose by 9,894.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.5 percent in April from 60.4 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Hawaii Payroll Employment

• Hawaii added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Hawaii added 3,200 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 3,900 private sector jobs, or 0.7 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,700 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Leisure and Hospitality (1,900) and Education and Health Services (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-200) and Government (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (5,600) and Education and Health Services (4,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (200) and Financial Activities (100).

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 rose to 60.5 percent in April from 60.4 percent in the prior month.

• 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 62.6 percent in April.