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.
Tennessee
Employment snapshot
In September, Tennessee added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee added 9,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 35,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Tennessee’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee added 8,800 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Tennessee rose by 9,915, and over the past 12 months it rose by 68,043.
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.1 percent in September from 60 percent and ranks 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.
Tennessee
Payroll employment
Tennessee added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Tennessee added 9,500 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Tennessee added 8,800 jobs. Tennessee private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 22nd 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 (+3,400) and State and Local Government (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+12,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+9,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-1,700) and Federal Government (-1,200).
Tennessee
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 Tennessee rose to 60.1 percent in September from 60 percent in the prior month.
Tennessee ranks 39th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 61.9 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.