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 Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In August, North Dakota lost 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, North Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in North Dakota rose by 10, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,016.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 69.4 percent in August and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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North Dakota

Payroll employment

• North Dakota lost 1,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,100 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 38th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+200) and Federal Government (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,300) and State and Local Government (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-200).

North Dakota

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 Dakota remained unchanged at 69.4 percent in August.

• North Dakota ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in August 2021.

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