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.
Kansas
Employment snapshot
In September, Kansas lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kansas lost 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Kansas ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Kansas’s private sector lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Kansas rose by 4,153, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,327.
Kansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 67.1 percent in September from 67 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Kansas
Payroll employment
Kansas lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,600 jobs. Kansas 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. Kansas ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kansas lost 2,000 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kansas lost 100 jobs. Kansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Kansas is tied for 48th 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 (+1,700) and Financial Activities (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,300) and Manufacturing (-700).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,400) and Financial Activities (+3,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,600).
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 67.1 percent in September from 67 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 62.4 percent in September.