September 2026
Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Alabama
Employment snapshot
In September, Alabama lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 5,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 21,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Alabama is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Alabama’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 4,700 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Alabama fell by 2,080, and over the past 12 months it fell by 37,543.
Alabama’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 56.8 percent in September and ranks 48th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Alabama
Payroll employment
Alabama lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alabama added 5,100 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Alabama is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Alabama lost 1,500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alabama added 4,700 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Alabama is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+1,400) and State and Local Government (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500) and Construction (-600).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600) and State and Local Government (+9,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-6,800) and Federal Government (-3,700).
Alabama
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 Alabama remained unchanged at 56.8 percent in September.
Alabama ranks 48th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.8 percent occurring in February 2019, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.