January 2025

Released March 17, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.

Indiana Employment Snapshot

• In January, Indiana lost 12,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Indiana added 3,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana added 8,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Indiana’s private sector lost 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Indiana rose by 6,396, and over the past 12 months it rose by 42,350.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.8 percent in January from 63.7 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Indiana Payroll Employment

• Indiana lost 12,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Indiana added 3,000 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana lost 2,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Indiana added 2,200 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 38th 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 January were Professional and Business Services (3,000) and Manufacturing (2,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,800) and Government (-10,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (12,500) and Professional and Business Services (2,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,200) and Manufacturing (-6,100).

Indiana 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 Indiana rose to 63.8 percent in January from 63.7 percent in the prior month.

• Indiana ranks 23rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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