September 2025 | Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Montana

Employment snapshot

• In September, Montana lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Montana lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Montana’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Montana rose by 70, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,371.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.2 percent in September from 62.1 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Montana

Payroll employment

• Montana lost 300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Montana lost 600 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana lost 400 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Montana lost 700 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+900) and Financial Activities (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800) and Construction (-400).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Federal Government (-900).

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 rose to 62.2 percent in September from 62.1 percent in the prior month.

• 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 62.4 percent in September.