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.

Indiana Employment Snapshot

• In February, Indiana lost 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Indiana lost 15,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana lost 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Indiana ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Indiana’s private sector lost 3,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana lost 5,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Indiana rose by 5,245, and over the past 12 months it rose by 46,555.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.8 percent in February and is tied for 22nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Indiana Payroll Employment

• Indiana lost 3,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Indiana lost 15,200 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Indiana ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana lost 3,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Indiana lost 5,700 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Indiana ranks 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 February were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (300) and Construction (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-1,000) and Professional and Business Services (-1,700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (9,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,000) and Manufacturing (-6,400).

Indiana 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 Indiana remained unchanged at 63.8 percent in February.

• Indiana is tied for 22nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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