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.

North Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In August, North Carolina added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 5,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 80,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, North Carolina’s private sector added 5,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 70,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 5,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in North Carolina fell by 2,394, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,168.

• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.2 percent in August from 59.3 percent and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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North Carolina

Payroll employment

• North Carolina added 4,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 5,500 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 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 5,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 5,800 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. North Carolina ranks 6th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,200) and Federal Government (-500).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+21,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+21,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-8,400) and Federal Government (-900).

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 fell to 59.2 percent in August from 59.3 percent in the prior month.

• 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 62.3 percent in August.