August 2026
Released September 18, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.
Arizona
Employment snapshot
In August, Arizona lost 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arizona added 21,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 4.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Arizona’s private sector lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 25,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 100 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Arizona fell by 9,028, and over the past 12 months it fell by 121,703.
Arizona’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.9 percent in August from 60.1 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2.2 percentage points.
Arizona
Payroll employment
Arizona lost 4,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Arizona added 100 jobs. Arizona nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arizona lost 2,200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Arizona added 100 jobs. Arizona private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From July 2026 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Other Services (+700) and Manufacturing (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-2,100) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+16,200) and Professional and Business Services (+9,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-9,100) and Financial Activities (-6,000).
Arizona
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 Arizona fell to 59.9 percent in August from 60.1 percent in the prior month.
Arizona ranks 37th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arizona was 62.2 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 59.9 percent in August 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.