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.
Kansas
Employment snapshot
In August, Kansas lost 4,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Kansas lost 6,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kansas lost 10,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Kansas ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Kansas’s private sector lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas lost 900 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Kansas rose by 2,277, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,125.
Kansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 67 percent in August from 66.9 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Kansas
Payroll employment
Kansas lost 4,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kansas lost 6,400 jobs. Kansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Kansas ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kansas lost 1,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kansas lost 900 jobs. Kansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Kansas ranks 47th 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 (+600) and Other Services (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-3,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,100).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,300) and Financial Activities (+2,600).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-9,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,100).
Kansas
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 Kansas rose to 67 percent in August from 66.9 percent in the prior month.
Kansas ranks 9th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kansas was 67.8 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.