June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Alabama

Employment snapshot

• In June, Alabama added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 5,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 20,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Alabama ranks 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Alabama’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 4,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Alabama fell by 8,268, and over the past 12 months it fell by 12,759.

• Alabama’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.1 percent in June from 57.2 percent and ranks 48th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Alabama

Payroll employment

• Alabama added 1,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Alabama added 5,300 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Alabama ranks 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alabama added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Alabama added 4,300 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, 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 May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+10,200) and Construction (+5,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,100).

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 fell to 57.1 percent in June from 57.2 percent in the prior month.

• 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 fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.