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.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In August, Idaho added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Idaho remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 12,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Idaho’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Idaho fell by 778, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,838.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.1 percent in August from 63.2 percent and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Idaho

Payroll employment

• Idaho added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Idaho remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Idaho added 400 jobs. Idaho 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. Idaho 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Construction (-500).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+6,500) and Construction (+4,900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100).

Idaho

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 Idaho fell to 63.1 percent in August from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Idaho ranks 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.8 percent in April 2020.

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