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.

Delaware Employment Snapshot

• In February, Delaware added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 7,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Delaware’s private sector added 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Delaware fell by 431, and over the past 12 months it rose by 139.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59 percent in February from 59.1 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Delaware Payroll Employment

• Delaware added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Delaware added 400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 2,000 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Delaware lost 100 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 12th 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 Professional and Business Services (500) and Education and Health Services (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities tied with Other Services (100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (2,900) and Government (1,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (100) and Financial Activities (-600).

Delaware 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 Delaware fell to 59 percent in February from 59.1 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59 percent in February 2025.

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