April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Minnesota Employment Snapshot

• In April, Minnesota lost 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 12,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 40,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, 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 April, Minnesota’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 30,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 11,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Minnesota rose by 490, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,959.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.2 percent in April and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Minnesota Payroll Employment

• Minnesota lost 1,300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Minnesota added 12,300 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, 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 lost 800 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Minnesota added 11,200 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-2,000) and Education and Health Services (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (25,100) and Government (10,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-700) and Financial Activities (-3,000).

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 68.2 percent in April.

• Minnesota ranks 6th 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 62.6 percent in April.