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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In August, Minnesota added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 42,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Minnesota’s private sector added 8,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 39,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Minnesota fell by 3,442, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,011.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.1 percent in August 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 5,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 500 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 8,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,200 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 8th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+4,300) and Construction (+1,900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-2,200) and Manufacturing (-900).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+29,000) and Construction (+6,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,200) and Other Services (-1,400).

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 August.

• 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 62.3 percent in August.