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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In August, Hawaii added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 11,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Hawaii’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Hawaii fell by 761, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,569.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.4 percent in August from 60.5 percent 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 added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 100 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Hawaii added 500 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 2nd 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 Private Education and Health Services (+500) and Professional and Business Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,700) and Professional and Business Services (-1,000).

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 fell to 60.4 percent in August from 60.5 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 62.3 percent in August.