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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In September, Minnesota added 6,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 6,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 42,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Minnesota’s private sector added 5,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 7,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Minnesota fell by 1,231, and over the past 12 months it rose by 740.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.1 percent in September and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Minnesota

Payroll employment

• Minnesota added 6,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Minnesota added 6,700 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 5,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Minnesota added 7,600 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 8th 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 (+4,200) and Manufacturing (+2,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,000) and Professional and Business Services (-600).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+27,800) and Construction (+5,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-3,300) and Information (-1,700).

Minnesota

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 Minnesota remained unchanged at 68.1 percent in September.

• Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.

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