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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In July, Minnesota lost 4,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 8,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 35,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Minnesota’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 29,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 7,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Minnesota fell by 5,255, and over the past 12 months it rose by 12,541.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.1 percent in July from 68.2 percent 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 lost 4,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 8,000 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota lost 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 7,400 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 83,000 jobs in July, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 18th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+5,400) and Construction (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-3,900) and Professional and Business Services (-2,300).

From July 2024 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+26,800) and State and Local Government (+6,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-3,900) and Other Services (-1,600).

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 fell to 68.1 percent in July from 68.2 percent in the prior month.

• 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 percent in July.