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.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In August, Illinois lost 13,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Illinois lost 1,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Illinois ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Illinois’s private sector lost 11,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois added 3,200 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Illinois fell by 9,826, and over the past 12 months it fell by 19,624.
Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.2 percent in August from 64.4 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 13,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Illinois lost 1,100 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Illinois ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois lost 11,800 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Illinois added 3,200 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Illinois ranks 46th 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 Information (+800) and Manufacturing (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,500) and Private Education and Health Services (-4,000).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+18,600) and Information (+4,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-11,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,600).
Illinois
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 Illinois fell to 64.2 percent in August from 64.4 percent in the prior month.
Illinois ranks 19th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.6 percent occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.