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.

Missouri Employment Snapshot

• In April, Missouri lost 6,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 8,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Missouri ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Missouri’s private sector lost 6,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 9,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Missouri rose by 2,025, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,105.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.4 percent in April and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Missouri Payroll Employment

• Missouri lost 6,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Missouri added 8,800 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Missouri ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri lost 6,900 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Missouri added 9,800 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri ranks 49th 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 Government (300) and Education and Health Services (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (16,600) and Government (5,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-7,100).

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 remained unchanged at 63.4 percent in April.

• Missouri ranks 24th 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 62.6 percent in April.