January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
Download the full PDF for New York
Download the summary PDF for New York
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.
New York Employment Snapshot
In January, New York added 20,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, New York added 37,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New York added 166,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, New York’s private sector added 14,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 139,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New York added 34,100 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in New York rose by 309, and over the past 12 months it rose by 17,936.
New York’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.8 percent in January from 60.9 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
New York Payroll Employment
New York added 20,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, New York added 37,700 jobs. New York nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New York added 14,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, New York added 34,100 jobs. New York private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 6th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (8,600) and Government (5,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-2,400) and Information (-3,700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (96,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (28,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,600) and Construction (-11,700).
New York 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 New York fell to 60.8 percent in January from 60.9 percent in the prior month.
New York ranks 37th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New York was 61.1 percent occurring in October 2023, and the 10-year low was 56.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.