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.

Utah Employment Snapshot

• In February, Utah lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 5,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Utah added 35,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Utah is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Utah’s private sector lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 4,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Utah rose by 675, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,645.

• Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.4 percent in February from 68.5 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Utah Payroll Employment

• Utah lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Utah added 5,600 jobs. Utah 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. Utah is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Utah lost 1,200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Utah added 4,500 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 4th 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 Government (1,100) and Information tied with Education and Health Services (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (13,200) and Government (11,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,500).

Utah 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 Utah fell to 68.4 percent in February from 68.5 percent in the prior month.

• Utah ranks 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 67.5 percent in April 2020.

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