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.

Vermont Employment Snapshot

• In February, Vermont added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Vermont ranks 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Vermont’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Vermont fell by 388, and over the past 12 months it rose by 882.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.5 percent in February and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Vermont Payroll Employment

• Vermont added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,500 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Vermont ranks 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,200 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Vermont 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 Government (400) and Professional and Business Services (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,300) and Government (1,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400) and Manufacturing (-600).

Vermont 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 Vermont remained unchanged at 65.5 percent in February.

• Vermont ranks 14th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.8 percent in February 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in November 2020.

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