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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In August, Maine lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine lost 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Maine ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Maine’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Maine fell by 166, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,043.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.8 percent in August and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine lost 400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Maine ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Maine lost 600 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Maine ranks 51st 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 (+500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-600) and Construction (-300).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,200) and Financial Activities (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600) and Construction (-1,200).

Maine

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 Maine remained unchanged at 59.8 percent in August.

• Maine ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in June 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in August 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.