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.

Montana

Employment snapshot

• In August, Montana remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Montana’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Montana rose by 41, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,487.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in August and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Montana

Payroll employment

• Montana remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Montana added 1,200 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Montana added 900 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 36th 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 (+600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-500) and Financial Activities (-300).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,300) and Other Services (-1,000).

Montana

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 Montana remained unchanged at 62.1 percent in August.

• Montana ranks 30th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2021.

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