October 2024

Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

North Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In October, North Dakota lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.4 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 6,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 1.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, North Dakota’s private sector lost 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in North Dakota rose by 127, and over the past 12 months it rose by 583.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.8 percent in October and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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North Dakota Payroll Employment

• North Dakota lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,500 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 1,400 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, North Dakota remained unchanged with 0 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 41st 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 October were Government (900) and Construction tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (4,700) and Education and Health Services (2,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,600).

North Dakota 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 North Dakota remained unchanged at 68.8 percent in October.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 72.1 percent occurring in November 2014, and the 10-year low was 68.4 percent occurring in March 2021.

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