State Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, May 21, 2025                                      USDL-25-0849 

Technical information: 
 Employment:    (202) 691-6559  *  sminfo@bls.gov    *  www.bls.gov/sae 
 Unemployment:  (202) 691-6392  *  lausinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/lau 

Media contact:  (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                       STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- APRIL 2025
                       
                       
Unemployment rates were higher in April in 3 states and the District of Columbia, lower in 
2 states, and stable in 45 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 
Twenty-six states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 1 state 
had a decrease, and 23 states had little change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged
at 4.2 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in April 2024.

In April 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged 
in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased 
in 16 states and was essentially unchanged in 34 states and the District.

This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and 
unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to 
individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that 
measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on 
payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the
concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.

Unemployment

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in April, 1.8 percent. The District of Columbia had the 
highest unemployment rate, 5.8 percent, followed by Nevada, 5.6 percent. In total, 19 states had 
unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.2 percent, 6 states and the District had 
higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. 
(See tables A and 1.)

In April, three states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases: 
Massachusetts and the District (+0.2 percentage point each) and Iowa and Virginia (+0.1 point 
each). Two states had rate decreases: Indiana (-0.2 percentage point) and Nevada (-0.1 point).
The remaining 45 states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a month
earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant 
changes. (See table B.)

Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from April 2024, 
the largest of which were in Mississippi (+1.2 percentage points) and Michigan (+1.1 points). 
The only over-the-year rate decrease occurred in Montana (-0.3 percentage point). Twenty-three 
states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though 
some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See 
table C.)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment

In April 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged 
in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Job gains occurred in Texas (+37,700, or +0.3 
percent), Ohio (+22,200, or +0.4 percent), North Carolina (+18,100, or +0.4 percent), Arizona 
(+14,200, or +0.4 percent), and Connecticut (+6,900, or +0.4 percent). (See tables D and 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 16 states and was essentially unchanged
in 34 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+215,500),
Florida (+144,100), and New York (+114,300). The largest percentage increases occurred in
Hawaii (+2.7 percent), South Carolina (+2.4 percent), and Idaho (+2.3 percent). (See table E.)

_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for April is scheduled to be 
released on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment 
news release for May is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).


Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., April 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
                State                |          Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................|           4.2
                                     |
Alabama .............................|           3.3
California ..........................|           5.3
District of Columbia ................|           5.8
Florida .............................|           3.7
Georgia .............................|           3.6
Hawaii ..............................|           2.9
Illinois ............................|           4.8
Iowa ................................|           3.5
Kentucky ............................|           5.2
Maryland ............................|           3.1
                                     |
Michigan ............................|           5.5
Minnesota ...........................|           3.2
Montana .............................|           2.7
Nebraska ............................|           3.0
Nevada ..............................|           5.6
New Hampshire .......................|           3.1
North Dakota ........................|           2.6
Ohio ................................|           4.9
Oklahoma ............................|           3.2
South Dakota ........................|           1.8
                                     |
Tennessee ...........................|           3.5
Utah ................................|           3.1
Vermont .............................|           2.7
Virginia ............................|           3.3
Wisconsin ...........................|           3.3
Wyoming .............................|           3.3
--------------------------------------------------------------
   (1) Data are not preliminary.
   (p) = preliminary.


Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from March 2025 to April 2025, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
             State              |   March   |   April   |    change(p)
                                |   2025    |  2025(p)  |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
District of Columbia ...........|     5.6   |     5.8   |       0.2
Indiana ........................|     4.1   |     3.9   |       -.2
Iowa ...........................|     3.4   |     3.5   |        .1
Massachusetts ..................|     4.4   |     4.6   |        .2
Nevada .........................|     5.7   |     5.6   |       -.1
Virginia .......................|     3.2   |     3.3   |        .1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.
   
     
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2024 to April 2025, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------|-----------|  Over-the-year
             State              |   April   |   April   |    change(p)
                                |   2024    |  2025(p)  |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................|     2.9   |     3.3   |       0.4
Arizona ........................|     3.4   |     4.1   |        .7
Arkansas .......................|     3.4   |     3.7   |        .3
California .....................|     5.2   |     5.3   |        .1
Colorado .......................|     4.0   |     4.8   |        .8
Connecticut ....................|     3.1   |     3.7   |        .6
District of Columbia ...........|     5.2   |     5.8   |        .6
Florida ........................|     3.3   |     3.7   |        .4
Iowa ...........................|     2.8   |     3.5   |        .7
Kansas .........................|     3.4   |     3.8   |        .4
                                |           |           |
Maine ..........................|     2.8   |     3.5   |        .7
Massachusetts ..................|     3.9   |     4.6   |        .7
Michigan .......................|     4.4   |     5.5   |       1.1
Mississippi ....................|     2.8   |     4.0   |       1.2
Montana ........................|     3.0   |     2.7   |       -.3
Nebraska .......................|     2.7   |     3.0   |        .3
New Hampshire ..................|     2.4   |     3.1   |        .7
New Jersey .....................|     4.5   |     4.8   |        .3
North Dakota ...................|     2.3   |     2.6   |        .3
Ohio ...........................|     4.2   |     4.9   |        .7
                                |           |           |
Oregon .........................|     4.1   |     4.7   |        .6
Pennsylvania ...................|     3.6   |     3.9   |        .3
Rhode Island ...................|     4.2   |     4.9   |        .7
Tennessee ......................|     3.2   |     3.5   |        .3
Vermont ........................|     2.1   |     2.7   |        .6
Virginia .......................|     2.8   |     3.3   |        .5
Wisconsin ......................|     2.9   |     3.3   |        .4
Wyoming ........................|     3.0   |     3.3   |        .3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.


Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
March 2025 to April 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |             |             | Over-the-month change(p)
            State             |    March    |    April    |---------------------------
                              |     2025    |    2025(p)  |    Level    |   Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ......................|   3,254,700 |   3,268,900 |      14,200 |      0.4
Connecticut ..................|   1,711,800 |   1,718,700 |       6,900 |       .4
North Carolina ...............|   5,076,000 |   5,094,100 |      18,100 |       .4
Ohio .........................|   5,690,900 |   5,713,100 |      22,200 |       .4
Texas ........................|  14,282,400 |  14,320,100 |      37,700 |       .3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.


Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2024 to April 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |             |             |  Over-the-year change(p)
            State             |     April   |    April    |---------------------------
                              |     2024    |    2025(p)  |    Level    |   Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................|   2,187,400 |   2,214,200 |      26,800 |      1.2
Arkansas .....................|   1,362,800 |   1,380,600 |      17,800 |      1.3
Florida ......................|   9,930,200 |  10,074,300 |     144,100 |      1.5
Hawaii .......................|     635,000 |     652,000 |      17,000 |      2.7
Idaho ........................|     859,800 |     879,900 |      20,100 |      2.3
Minnesota ....................|   3,009,200 |   3,050,000 |      40,800 |      1.4
New Mexico ...................|     885,100 |     898,500 |      13,400 |      1.5
New York .....................|   9,860,000 |   9,974,300 |     114,300 |      1.2
North Carolina ...............|   5,017,400 |   5,094,100 |      76,700 |      1.5
Ohio .........................|   5,645,300 |   5,713,100 |      67,800 |      1.2
                              |             |             |             |       
Oklahoma .....................|   1,776,300 |   1,800,700 |      24,400 |      1.4
Pennsylvania .................|   6,128,100 |   6,223,800 |      95,700 |      1.6
South Carolina ...............|   2,350,500 |   2,407,800 |      57,300 |      2.4
Texas ........................|  14,104,600 |  14,320,100 |     215,500 |      1.5
Utah .........................|   1,741,200 |   1,779,600 |      38,400 |      2.2
Virginia .....................|   4,224,800 |   4,272,700 |      47,900 |      1.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.