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.

Louisiana Employment Snapshot

• In February, Louisiana added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 19,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana ranks 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Louisiana’s private sector added 2,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 3,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Louisiana fell by 2,148, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,710.

• Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58 percent in February from 58.1 percent and ranks 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Louisiana Payroll Employment

• Louisiana added 2,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,500 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana ranks 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Louisiana added 2,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Louisiana added 3,200 jobs. Louisiana 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. Louisiana is tied for 22nd 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 Professional and Business Services (2,700) and Education and Health Services (1,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-1,900) and Financial Activities (-2,200).

Louisiana 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 Louisiana fell to 58 percent in February from 58.1 percent in the prior month.

• Louisiana ranks 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 60.9 percent in February 2015, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.

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