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.
Kentucky
Employment snapshot
In September, Kentucky added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 19,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 5.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Kentucky’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 1,700 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Kentucky rose by 634, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,511.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.1 percent in September from 58.2 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Kentucky
Payroll employment
Kentucky added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kentucky added 2,400 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kentucky added 1,700 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+900) and Private Education and Health Services (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+6,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-800) and Manufacturing (-700).
Kentucky
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 Kentucky fell to 58.1 percent in September from 58.2 percent in the prior month.
Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.