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.

New Mexico

Employment snapshot

• In August, New Mexico lost 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 16,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. New Mexico is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, New Mexico’s private sector lost 4,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in New Mexico fell by 398, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,224.

• New Mexico’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.7 percent in August from 57.8 percent and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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New Mexico

Payroll employment

• New Mexico lost 3,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, New Mexico added 1,200 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. New Mexico is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Mexico lost 4,000 private sector jobs, or -0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, New Mexico remained unchanged with 0 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. New Mexico ranks 7th 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 State and Local Government (+900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,200) and Private Education and Health Services (-1,000).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,200) and State and Local Government (+6,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,300).

New Mexico

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 Mexico fell to 57.7 percent in August from 57.8 percent in the prior month.

• New Mexico is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Mexico was 58.3 percent occurring in September 2016, and the 10-year low was 54.1 percent in April 2020.

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