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.

Michigan Employment Snapshot

• In February, Michigan added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.4 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 34,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.4 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Michigan’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Michigan rose by 1,350, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,840.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62 percent in February and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Michigan Payroll Employment

• Michigan added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,400 jobs. Michigan 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. Michigan is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,400 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 29th 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 Manufacturing (6,800) and Professional and Business Services (2,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,000) and Education and Health Services (-3,200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (23,300) and Government (7,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-3,800) and Manufacturing (-10,800).

Michigan 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 Michigan remained unchanged at 62 percent in February.

• Michigan ranks 33rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

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