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.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In September, Iowa added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Iowa’s private sector added 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,500 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Iowa rose by 2,558, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,297.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 67.5 percent in September and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.
Iowa
Payroll employment
Iowa added 3,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,600 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa added 2,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,500 jobs. Iowa 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. Iowa is tied for 45th 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 State and Local Government (+1,600) and Construction (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-200).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+5,500) and State and Local Government (+4,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-4,100) and Professional and Business Services (-3,200).
Iowa
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 Iowa remained unchanged at 67.5 percent in September.
Iowa ranks 7th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.