April 2025

Released May 21, 2025

Released April 18, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Ohio Employment Snapshot

• In April, Ohio added 22,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 5,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 67,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Ohio’s private sector added 20,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 65,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 4,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Ohio rose by 6,115, and over the past 12 months it rose by 29,138.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.7 percent in April from 62.6 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Ohio Payroll Employment

• Ohio added 22,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Ohio added 5,200 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Ohio added 20,900 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Ohio added 4,800 jobs. Ohio private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Education and Health Services (7,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (6,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-200) and Financial Activities (-1,100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (26,400) and Construction (20,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (700) and Mining and Logging (-300).

Ohio 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 Ohio rose to 62.7 percent in April from 62.6 percent in the prior month.

• Ohio is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.