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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In August, Pennsylvania added 12,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 101,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 9,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 99,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,700 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 6,665, and over the past 12 months it fell by 54,592.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.3 percent in August from 61.4 percent and ranks 35th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 12,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,800 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 9,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,700 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 4th 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 (+3,700) and State and Local Government (+3,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-900) and Construction (-800).
From August 2024 to August 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+52,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+17,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,400) and Information (-800).
Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania fell to 61.3 percent in August from 61.4 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania ranks 35th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent occurring in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.