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.

Minnesota Employment Snapshot

• In January, Minnesota added 9,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 48,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Minnesota’s private sector added 9,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 34,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Minnesota rose by 5,451, and over the past 12 months it rose by 27,150.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate rose to 68.1 percent in January from 68 percent and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Minnesota Payroll Employment

• Minnesota added 9,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Minnesota added 4,700 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 9,700 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 1,200 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 12th 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 Education and Health Services (4,300) and Professional and Business Services (1,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-100) and Manufacturing (-300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (29,000) and Government (13,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-1,400) and Manufacturing (-2,400).

Minnesota 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 Minnesota rose to 68.1 percent in January from 68 percent in the prior month.

• Minnesota ranks 6th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.

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