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.

Kentucky Employment Snapshot

• In February, Kentucky added 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.3 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 5,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 12,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Kentucky’s private sector added 4,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 4,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Kentucky rose by 6,371, and over the past 12 months it rose by 25,751.

• Kentucky’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.4 percent in February from 58.3 percent and is tied for 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Kentucky Payroll Employment

• Kentucky added 5,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 5,200 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Kentucky added 4,700 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 4,300 jobs. Kentucky 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. Kentucky is tied for 30th 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 (3,800) and Education and Health Services (1,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,700) and Government (3,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).

Kentucky 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 Kentucky rose to 58.4 percent in February from 58.3 percent in the prior month.

• Kentucky is tied for 43rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.

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