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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In August, Oklahoma added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 23,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Oklahoma’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Oklahoma rose by 3,498, and over the past 12 months it rose by 22,125.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.8 percent in August from 62.7 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Oklahoma

Payroll employment

• Oklahoma added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 1,500 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 2,200 jobs. Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma is tied for 14th 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 (+1,900) and Other Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200) and Private Education and Health Services (-300).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,300) and State and Local Government (+6,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,300) and Mining and Logging (-1,100).

Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma rose to 62.8 percent in August from 62.7 percent in the prior month.

• Oklahoma is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63 percent occurring in December 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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