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.

Pennsylvania Employment Snapshot

• In February, Pennsylvania lost 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 11,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 69,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

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

• In February, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 60,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 5,126, and over the past 12 months it fell by 84,073.

• Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.5 percent in February from 61.6 percent and is tied for 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Pennsylvania Payroll Employment

• Pennsylvania lost 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 11,000 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Pennsylvania added 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 8,500 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania 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 (4,700) and Manufacturing (2,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-3,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-7,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (41,800) and Government (9,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,700) and Information (-2,500).

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania fell to 61.5 percent in February from 61.6 percent in the prior month.

• Pennsylvania is tied for 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent occurring in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.

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