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.

North Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In January, North Dakota lost 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.6 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 5,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, North Dakota’s private sector lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in North Dakota rose by 509, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,554.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.4 percent in January from 69.3 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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North Dakota Payroll Employment

• North Dakota lost 1,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,600 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 1,600 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,200 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 21st 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 (300) and Construction tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Information; and Government (0).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing tied with Professional and Business Services (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-700).

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 rose to 69.4 percent in January from 69.3 percent in the prior month.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 71.7 percent in January 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in August 2021.

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