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.

Florida Employment Snapshot

• In February, Florida added 7,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 14,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 128,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Florida’s private sector added 7,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 105,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 11,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Florida rose by 237, and over the past 12 months it rose by 26,043.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.1 percent in February and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Florida Payroll Employment

• Florida added 7,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Florida added 14,600 jobs. Florida 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. Florida is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 7,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Florida added 11,800 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Florida 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 Construction (5,500) and Professional and Business Services (3,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (39,700) and Government (22,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (3,500) and Information (1,900).

Florida 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 Florida remained unchanged at 58.1 percent in February.

• Florida ranks 45th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

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