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.

New Hampshire

Employment snapshot

• In September, New Hampshire added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 4,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, New Hampshire’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in New Hampshire fell by 151, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,859.

• New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.4 percent in September and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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New Hampshire

Payroll employment

• New Hampshire added 1,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,900 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Hampshire added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,500 jobs. New Hampshire private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 22nd 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 (+1,000) and Professional and Business Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+5,200) and Professional and Business Services (+3,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,300).

New Hampshire

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 New Hampshire remained unchanged at 65.4 percent in September.

• New Hampshire ranks 11th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.1 percent occurring in November 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.