April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Washington Employment Snapshot

• In April, Washington lost 6,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 3,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 27,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Washington’s private sector lost 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 21,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 5,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Washington fell by 7,766, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,016.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent in April from 62.9 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Washington Payroll Employment

• Washington lost 6,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Washington added 3,800 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 5,300 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Washington added 5,200 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Professional and Business Services (2,700) and Education and Health Services (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-3,100) and Construction (-3,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (24,100) and Professional and Business Services (11,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-3,900) and Construction (-15,000).

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 62.7 percent in April from 62.9 percent in the prior month.

• Washington is tied for 26th 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 62.7 percent in April 2025.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.