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.

Minnesota Employment Snapshot

• In February, Minnesota lost 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 3,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 39,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Minnesota’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 4,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Minnesota rose by 2,715, and over the past 12 months it rose by 27,433.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.1 percent in February and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Minnesota Payroll Employment

• Minnesota lost 700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Minnesota added 3,800 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota lost 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Minnesota added 4,500 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 18th 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 (2,100) and Professional and Business Services (1,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (27,800) and Government (11,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,300).

Minnesota 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 Minnesota remained unchanged at 68.1 percent in February.

• Minnesota ranks 6th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.

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