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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In September, Maine lost 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maine lost 1,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine lost 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Maine ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Maine’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 4,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Maine fell by 407, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,544.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.7 percent in September from 59.8 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine lost 900 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maine lost 1,400 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Maine ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maine lost 800 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Maine ranks 51st 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and State and Local Government (-600).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Financial Activities (+500) and State and Local Government (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,000) 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 fell to 59.7 percent in September from 59.8 percent in the prior month.

• 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 62.4 percent in September.