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.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In September, West Virginia lost 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, West Virginia’s private sector lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in West Virginia fell by 300, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,267.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate rose to 54.4 percent in September from 54.3 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia lost 2,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 800 jobs. West Virginia 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. West Virginia is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia lost 1,100 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 900 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 42nd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+600) and Private Education and Health Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-900) and Professional and Business Services (-700).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,800) and Manufacturing (-900).

West Virginia

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 West Virginia rose to 54.4 percent in September from 54.3 percent in the prior month.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.1 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.