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.

Vermont

Employment snapshot

• In September, Vermont added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. In the prior month, Vermont added 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Vermont’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont added 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Vermont fell by 634, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,150.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.4 percent in September from 64.6 percent and ranks 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Vermont

Payroll employment

• Vermont added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Vermont added 800 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont added 200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Vermont added 700 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 19th 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 State and Local Government (+600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-200).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,200) and State and Local Government (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Manufacturing (-300).

Vermont

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 Vermont fell to 64.4 percent in September from 64.6 percent in the prior month.

• Vermont ranks 17th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.3 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in November 2020.

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