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.

Mississippi Employment Snapshot

• In February, Mississippi added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi added 4,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 16,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Mississippi’s private sector added 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Mississippi rose by 1,482, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,485.

• Mississippi’s labor force participation rate rose to 56 percent in February from 55.9 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1.4 percentage points.

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Mississippi Payroll Employment

• Mississippi added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Mississippi added 4,500 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Mississippi added 1,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,900 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi is tied for 8th 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 tied with Government (500) and Construction (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,500) and Construction (3,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-100) and Manufacturing (-700).

Mississippi 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 Mississippi rose to 56 percent in February from 55.9 percent in the prior month.

• Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.

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