State Employment and Unemployment Figures from April 2025

Unemployment rates were higher in April in 3 states and the District of Columbia, lower in 2 states, and stable in 45 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-six states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 1 state had a decrease, and 23 states had little change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in April 2024.

In April 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased
in 16 states and was essentially unchanged in 34 states and the District. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.

Unemployment
South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in April, 1.8 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 5.8 percent, followed by Nevada, 5.6 percent. In total, 19 states had
unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.2 percent, 6 states and the District had higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See
tables A and 1 and map 1.)

In April, three states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases:
Massachusetts and the District (+0.2 percentage point each) and Iowa and Virginia (+0.1 point each). Two states had rate decreases: Indiana (-0.2 percentage point) and Nevada (-0.1 point).
The remaining 45 states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant
changes. (See table B.)

Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from April 2024, the largest of which were in Mississippi (+1.2 percentage points) and Michigan (+1.1 points). The only over-the-year rate decrease occurred in Montana (-0.3 percentage point). Twenty-three states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table C.)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment
In April 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Job gains occurred in Texas (+37,700, or +0.3 percent),
Ohio (+22,200, or +0.4 percent), North Carolina (+18,100, or +0.4 percent), Arizona (+14,200, or +0.4 percent), and Connecticut (+6,900, or +0.4 percent). (See tables D and 3.) Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 16 states and was essentially unchanged in 34 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+215,500), Florida (+144,100), and New York (+114,300). The largest percentage increases occurred in Hawaii (+2.7 percent), South Carolina (+2.4 percent), and Idaho (+2.3 percent). (See table E and map 2.)

Full tables and article available at US Bureau of Labor Statistics.