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.

Wisconsin

Employment snapshot

• In August, Wisconsin added 8,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin added 22,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Wisconsin’s private sector added 10,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 28,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Wisconsin fell by 5,962, and over the past 12 months it fell by 40,374.

• Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.8 percent in August from 65 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.

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Wisconsin

Payroll employment

• Wisconsin added 8,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,400 jobs. Wisconsin nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Wisconsin added 10,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 1,100 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 16th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+5,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,400).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,400) and Manufacturing (-1,400).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+12,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+10,400).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-4,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,900).

Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin fell to 64.8 percent in August from 65 percent in the prior month.

• Wisconsin ranks 13th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in August 2017, and the 10-year low was 64.8 percent in August 2025.

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