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.

Missouri Employment Snapshot

• In February, Missouri added 12,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Missouri lost 18,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 10,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Missouri’s private sector added 12,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri lost 20,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Missouri rose by 2,928, and over the past 12 months it rose by 22,120.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.3 percent in February from 63.2 percent and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Missouri Payroll Employment

• Missouri added 12,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Missouri lost 18,600 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri added 12,200 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Missouri lost 20,400 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 41st 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 (9,300) and Professional and Business Services (3,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (19,300) and Government (8,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-9,900).

Missouri 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 Missouri rose to 63.3 percent in February from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Missouri ranks 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

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