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.

Washington Employment Snapshot

• In February, Washington lost 11,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 40,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

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

• In February, Washington’s private sector lost 11,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 29,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Washington fell by 5,295, and over the past 12 months it rose by 20,042.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 63 percent in February from 63.1 percent and ranks 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Washington Payroll Employment

• Washington lost 11,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,500 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

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

• Washington lost 11,000 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Washington lost 1,200 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 22nd 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,600) and Education and Health Services (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800) and Construction (-9,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (25,700) and Government (11,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-3,500) and Construction (-13,900).

Washington 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 Washington fell to 63 percent in February from 63.1 percent in the prior month.

• Washington ranks 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.8 percent occurring in February 2021.

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