June 2025 | Released July 18, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 11, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 33.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Alaska. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Rhode Island.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In June, Washington added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 3,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 30,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Washington’s private sector added 4,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 30,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 6,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Washington fell by 8,295, and over the past 12 months it fell by 30,499.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.3 percent in June from 62.5 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Washington added 3,600 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 4,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Washington added 6,400 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 74,000 jobs in June, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2025 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+5,800) and Information (+1,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700) and Financial Activities (-800).

From June 2024 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+20,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+10,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-11,300) and Manufacturing (-3,900).

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 62.3 percent in June from 62.5 percent in the prior month.

• Washington ranks 30th 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 62.3 percent in June 2025.

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