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.

Iowa Employment Snapshot

• In February, Iowa lost 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Iowa lost 7,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Iowa’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 10,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Iowa fell by 667, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,935.

• Iowa’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 67 percent in February and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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Iowa Payroll Employment

• Iowa lost 1,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,100 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Iowa added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Iowa added 200 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 51st 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 (1,500) and Manufacturing tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Leisure and Hospitality (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (-300) and Government (-3,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,900) and Government (2,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-3,400) and Manufacturing (-7,600).

Iowa 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 Iowa remained unchanged at 67 percent in February.

• Iowa ranks 9th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.

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