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.

Louisiana

Employment snapshot

• In September, Louisiana added 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 1,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 20,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Louisiana’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Louisiana rose by 1,844, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,127.

• Louisiana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58 percent in September and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Louisiana

Payroll employment

• Louisiana added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 1,900 jobs. Louisiana 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. Louisiana is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Louisiana added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Louisiana lost 2,200 jobs. Louisiana 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. Louisiana is tied for 15th 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 Construction (+1,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-400).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+15,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+9,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-3,700) and Financial Activities (-2,700).

Louisiana

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 Louisiana remained unchanged at 58 percent in September.

• Louisiana ranks 45th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 59.8 percent in September 2015, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.