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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In September, Washington added 4,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 9,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 13,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Washington’s private sector added 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington lost 9,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Washington rose by 5,275, and over the past 12 months it fell by 36,822.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.1 percent in September from 62 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington added 4,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Washington lost 9,800 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Washington lost 9,000 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 31st 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 Professional and Business Services (+3,400) and State and Local Government (+2,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+18,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-12,100) and Manufacturing (-5,200).

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 rose to 62.1 percent in September from 62 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 62.4 percent in September.