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.

Kansas Employment Snapshot

• In February, Kansas added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Kansas lost 2,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Kansas added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Kansas is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Kansas’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas lost 2,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Kansas rose by 377, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,556.

• Kansas’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.2 percent in February from 67.3 percent and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Kansas Payroll Employment

• Kansas added 1,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kansas lost 2,600 jobs. Kansas 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. Kansas is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Kansas lost 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kansas lost 2,300 jobs. Kansas 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. Kansas is tied for 45th 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 Government (1,600) and Construction (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,400) and Government (3,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,800) and Professional and Business Services (-5,100).

Kansas 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 Kansas fell to 67.2 percent in February from 67.3 percent in the prior month.

• Kansas ranks 8th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kansas was 67.9 percent occurring in March 2015, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in April 2020.

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