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.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In September, Alaska lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Alaska’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Alaska fell by 1,109, and over the past 12 months it rose by 25.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.3 percent in September from 65.5 percent and ranks 10th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska lost 300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alaska added 200 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 400 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 1st 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 (+600) and Professional and Business Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-700) and Construction (-600).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,500) and Manufacturing (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,500) and Construction (-1,000).

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 65.3 percent in September from 65.5 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 10th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.2 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.