January 2025

Released March 17, 2025

Download the full PDF for Vermont

Download the summary PDF for Vermont

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.

Vermont Employment Snapshot

• In January, Vermont added 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Vermont ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Vermont’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it remained unchanged with 0 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont lost 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Vermont rose by 113, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,571.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.5 percent in January and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

---

Vermont Payroll Employment

• Vermont added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Vermont lost 500 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Vermont ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Vermont lost 200 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 42nd 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 (500) and Government (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100) and Information (-200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,400) and Government (600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

Vermont 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 Vermont remained unchanged at 65.5 percent in January.

• Vermont ranks 14th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.8 percent occurring in February 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in November 2020.

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