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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In September, Pennsylvania added 5,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 99,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 6,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 95,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,000 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 6,373, and over the past 12 months it fell by 50,732.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.3 percent in September and is tied for 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 5,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,200 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 6,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,000 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 3rd 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 (+2,500) and Professional and Business Services (+2,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,100) and Information (-800).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+48,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+16,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,400) and Information (-900).
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 remained unchanged at 61.3 percent in September.
Pennsylvania is tied for 34th 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 62.4 percent in September.