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.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In September, Rhode Island added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island added 2,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Rhode Island’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Rhode Island rose by 1,869, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,159.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.8 percent in September from 63.7 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,100 jobs. Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 800 jobs. Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island is tied for 35th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+800) and Private Education and Health Services (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-600) and Professional and Business Services (-400).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,400) and State and Local Government (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and Financial Activities (-500).

Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island rose to 63.8 percent in September from 63.7 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island ranks 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 64.7 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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