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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In August, Oregon added 6,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 13,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Oregon’s private sector added 5,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Oregon rose by 1,243, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,447.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.9 percent in August from 62.8 percent and ranks 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 6,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oregon added 100 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon added 5,800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oregon lost 700 jobs. Oregon 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. Oregon is tied for 26th 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 (+2,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000) and Construction (-200).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+15,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+6,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-7,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,800).

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 rose to 62.9 percent in August from 62.8 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon ranks 25th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 62.9 percent in August 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 62.3 percent in August.