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.
New York Employment Snapshot
In February, New York added 5,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, New York added 13,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New York added 152,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In February, New York’s private sector added 3,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 126,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New York added 7,500 net private payroll jobs.
In February, employment in New York rose by 12,240, and over the past 12 months it rose by 26,885.
New York’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.9 percent in February from 60.8 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
New York Payroll Employment
New York added 5,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New York added 13,700 jobs. New York nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New York added 3,700 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New York added 7,500 jobs. New York private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. New York is tied for 6th 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 (8,600) and Government (2,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,100).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (98,400) and Government (26,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-3,100) and Construction (-7,600).
New York 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 New York rose to 60.9 percent in February from 60.8 percent in the prior month.
New York ranks 37th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New York was 61.1 percent occurring in October 2023, and the 10-year low was 56.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.