July 2025 | Released August 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 15, and remained unchanged in 30.

• 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 4.2 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Wyoming.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In July, Maine lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maine added 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine lost 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Maine’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 3,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Maine fell by 95, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,531.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.9 percent in July and is tied for 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Maine added 200 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 83,000 jobs in July, or 0.1 percent. Maine ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2025 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500) and State and Local Government (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-500).

From July 2024 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-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 59.9 percent in July.

• Maine is tied for 39th 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 percent in July.