February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Alabama Employment Snapshot

• In February, Alabama added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama lost 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 17,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Alabama’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Alabama rose by 5,265, and over the past 12 months it rose by 26,691.

• Alabama’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.7 percent in February from 57.6 percent and ranks 48th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Alabama Payroll Employment

• Alabama added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alabama lost 800 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alabama added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alabama lost 600 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 30th 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 February were Education and Health Services (1,700) and Manufacturing (900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,400) and Government (6,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,000) and Professional and Business Services (-3,200).

Alabama 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 Alabama rose to 57.7 percent in February from 57.6 percent in the prior month.

• Alabama ranks 48th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.8 percent occurring in March 2019, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.