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.

Alaska Employment Snapshot

• In February, Alaska lost 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 6,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Alaska ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Alaska’s private sector lost 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Alaska rose by 875, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,661.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate rose to 64.9 percent in February from 64.7 percent and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Alaska Payroll Employment

• Alaska lost 1,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alaska added 600 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Alaska ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska lost 1,800 private sector jobs, or -0.7 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alaska added 500 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 2nd 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 Construction tied with Information; and Leisure and Hospitality (0) and Financial Activities (-100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging tied with Other Services (-200) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (2,300) and Education and Health Services (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-200) and Financial Activities (-200).

Alaska 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 Alaska rose to 64.9 percent in February from 64.7 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 18th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 67 percent occurring in April 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

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