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.

Missouri

Employment snapshot

• In August, Missouri lost 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 15,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 33,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Missouri’s private sector lost 2,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 23,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 5,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Missouri rose by 2,967, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,868.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.6 percent in August from 63.5 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Missouri

Payroll employment

• Missouri lost 5,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Missouri added 15,400 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri lost 2,900 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Missouri added 5,100 jobs. Missouri private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Missouri is tied for 23rd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100) and Construction (+1,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-4,100) and State and Local Government (-2,800).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+19,600) and State and Local Government (+12,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-7,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,700).

Missouri

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 Missouri rose to 63.6 percent in August from 63.5 percent in the prior month.

• Missouri is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.