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.

Vermont

Employment snapshot

• In August, Vermont added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

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

• In August, Vermont’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Vermont fell by 838, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,536.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.6 percent in August from 64.7 percent and is tied for 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Vermont

Payroll employment

• Vermont added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Vermont lost 300 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

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

• Vermont added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Vermont remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Vermont ranks 34th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-300) and Federal Government (-100).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-800) and State and Local Government (-400).

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 64.6 percent in August from 64.7 percent in the prior month.

• Vermont is tied for 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 62.3 percent in August.