October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Delaware Employment Snapshot

• In October, Delaware lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Delaware’s private sector lost 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Delaware fell by 18, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,216.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.3 percent in October from 59.5 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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Delaware Payroll Employment

• Delaware lost 1,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. 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 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware lost 1,400 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Delaware added 200 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 47th 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 October were Information (100) and Manufacturing tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Education and Health Services; and Government (0).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-600) and Professional and Business Services (-1,100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (2,100) and Education and Health Services (1,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-700).

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 59.3 percent in October from 59.5 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.1 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.3 percent in October 2024.

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