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.

North Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In September, North Carolina added 10,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 5,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 79,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, North Carolina’s private sector added 10,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 71,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 6,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in North Carolina rose by 1,020, and over the past 12 months it fell by 306.

• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.2 percent in September and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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North Carolina

Payroll employment

• North Carolina added 10,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Carolina added 5,900 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Carolina added 10,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Carolina added 6,600 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 6th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+3,200) and Professional and Business Services (+2,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and State and Local Government (-200).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+21,400) and Professional and Business Services (+20,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-7,700) and Federal Government (-700).

North Carolina

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 North Carolina remained unchanged at 59.2 percent in September.

• North Carolina ranks 41st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Carolina was 61.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.

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