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.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In June, Alaska added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 3,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Alaska’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Alaska fell by 147, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,770.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.9 percent in June from 66 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska added 1,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,900 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,800 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Alaska ranks 2nd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+800) and Private Education and Health Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-200) and Information (-100).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,500) and Manufacturing (-300).

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 65.9 percent in June from 66 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 June 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.