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.

Hawaii Employment Snapshot

• In February, Hawaii added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 10,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Hawaii’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Hawaii rose by 1,667, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,811.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.2 percent in February from 60.1 percent and ranks 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Hawaii Payroll Employment

• Hawaii added 1,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Hawaii added 300 jobs. Hawaii 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. Hawaii is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,100 jobs. Hawaii 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. Hawaii ranks 5th 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 (700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-200) and Government (-800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (100) and Professional and Business Services (-300).

Hawaii 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 Hawaii rose to 60.2 percent in February from 60.1 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii ranks 39th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

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