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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In September, Oregon added 3,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 3,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 11,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Oregon’s private sector added 2,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Oregon rose by 876, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,727.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.9 percent in September and is tied for 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon added 3,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Oregon added 3,500 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon added 2,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,700 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 31st 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-300).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+16,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+5,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-10,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,500).

Oregon

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 Oregon remained unchanged at 62.9 percent in September.

• Oregon is tied for 25th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 62.9 percent occurring in September 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

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