February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

Download the full PDF for Tennessee

Download the summary PDF for Tennessee

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.

Tennessee Employment Snapshot

• In February, Tennessee added 9,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 11,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 19,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Tennessee’s private sector added 8,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 9,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Tennessee rose by 3,765, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,318.

• Tennessee’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.6 percent in February and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

---

Tennessee Payroll Employment

• Tennessee added 9,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 11,500 jobs. Tennessee nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Tennessee added 8,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 9,900 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 34th 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 (4,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-800) and Professional and Business Services (-1,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (9,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,000) and Professional and Business Services (-7,600).

Tennessee 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 Tennessee remained unchanged at 59.6 percent in February.

• Tennessee ranks 41st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 61.9 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.8 percent in April 2020.

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