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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In August, Washington lost 10,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 19,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Washington ranks 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Washington’s private sector lost 9,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 6,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Washington fell by 2,270, and over the past 12 months it fell by 43,282.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in August from 62.1 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington lost 10,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Washington added 4,700 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Washington ranks 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 9,500 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Washington added 6,000 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 26th 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 Other Services (+1,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-4,400) and Manufacturing (-3,000).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+23,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+7,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-11,100) and Manufacturing (-4,600).

Washington

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 Washington fell to 62 percent in August from 62.1 percent in the prior month.

• Washington ranks 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2025.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.