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.
Kentucky
Employment snapshot
In August, Kentucky added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 19,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 5.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Kentucky’s private sector added 2,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Kentucky fell by 131, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,313.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.2 percent in August from 58.3 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
Kentucky
Payroll employment
Kentucky added 3,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kentucky added 100 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky added 2,800 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kentucky added 1,100 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 18th 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 (+1,200) and State and Local Government (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-300) and Other Services (-300).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+6,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-700) and Federal Government (-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 58.2 percent in August from 58.3 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 62.3 percent in August.