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.
Tennessee Employment Snapshot
In January, Tennessee lost 10,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee added 3,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 21,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Tennessee’s private sector lost 10,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Tennessee rose by 4,736, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,651.
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.6 percent in January from 59.5 percent and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Tennessee Payroll Employment
Tennessee lost 10,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Tennessee added 3,200 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee lost 10,200 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Tennessee added 1,800 jobs. Tennessee private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 36th 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 Professional and Business Services (1,800) and Other Services (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,600) and Education and Health Services (-9,600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (11,200) and Construction (4,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,800) and Professional and Business Services (-4,100).
Tennessee 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 Tennessee rose to 59.6 percent in January from 59.5 percent in the prior month.
Tennessee ranks 41st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 61.9 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.