July 2026

Released August 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 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 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In July, Alaska lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Alaska’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Alaska fell by 406, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,060.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.7 percent in July from 65.8 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Alaska added 700 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Alaska added 600 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Alaska ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) and Other Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-300) and State and Local Government (-300).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,400) and State and Local Government (-900).

Alaska

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 Alaska fell to 65.7 percent in July from 65.8 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 9th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.2 percent occurring in July 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.