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.

North Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In February, North Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, North Dakota’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in North Dakota rose by 416, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,493.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 69.4 percent in February and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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North Dakota Payroll Employment

• North Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,200 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 1,200 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 25th 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 Professional and Business Services (300) and Government (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging tied with Financial Activities (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (2,600) and Government (1,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging tied with Manufacturing (-500) and Financial Activities (-700).

North Dakota 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 North Dakota remained unchanged at 69.4 percent in February.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 71.5 percent in February 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in August 2021.

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