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.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In August, Rhode Island added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Rhode Island’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Rhode Island rose by 2,055, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,355.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.7 percent in August from 63.6 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Rhode Island remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island added 300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 600 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 36th 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 Professional and Business Services (+1,100) and Construction (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-600).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,500) and Other Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (-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 63.7 percent in August from 63.6 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 62.3 percent in August.