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.
Pennsylvania Employment Snapshot
In January, Pennsylvania added 9,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 20,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 75,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 6,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 61,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 19,300 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 10,891, and over the past 12 months it fell by 79,954.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.6 percent in January from 61.7 percent and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
Pennsylvania Payroll Employment
Pennsylvania added 9,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 20,100 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 6,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 19,300 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania 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 (5,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-1,100) and Professional and Business Services (-4,900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (40,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (14,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,300) and Manufacturing (-5,900).
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania fell to 61.6 percent in January from 61.7 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania ranks 34th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent occurring in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.