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.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In August, Michigan added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 44,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Michigan’s private sector added 3,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 31,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 500 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Michigan fell by 6,875, and over the past 12 months it fell by 21,444.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.5 percent in August from 61.6 percent and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan added 4,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,100 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan added 3,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Michigan added 500 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 26th 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 Professional and Business Services (+3,600) and State and Local Government (+1,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,000) and Construction (-1,900).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+21,700) and State and Local Government (+14,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-11,200) and Manufacturing (-9,200).
Michigan
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 Michigan fell to 61.5 percent in August from 61.6 percent in the prior month.
Michigan ranks 33rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.