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.

Indiana

Employment snapshot

• In September, Indiana added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana added 24,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Indiana’s private sector added 5,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana added 4,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Indiana rose by 1,304, and over the past 12 months it rose by 39,254.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.7 percent in September from 63.6 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Indiana

Payroll employment

• Indiana added 5,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,300 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana added 5,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Indiana added 4,600 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 17th 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 Professional and Business Services (+2,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Private Education and Health Services (-1,300).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+14,500) and Professional and Business Services (+11,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-4,200) and State and Local Government (-1,900).

Indiana

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 Indiana rose to 63.7 percent in September from 63.6 percent in the prior month.

• Indiana is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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