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.
Arizona
Employment snapshot
In July, Arizona added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arizona added 23,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Arizona’s private sector added 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 29,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Arizona fell by 14,715, and over the past 12 months it fell by 108,851.
Arizona’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.1 percent in July from 60.3 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2 percentage points.
Arizona
Payroll employment
Arizona added 2,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,700 jobs. Arizona nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arizona added 1,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,500 jobs. Arizona private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Arizona is tied for 9th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,600) and Professional and Business Services (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,600) and Construction (-1,300).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+18,900) and Professional and Business Services (+11,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-7,900) and Financial Activities (-4,500).
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 60.1 percent in July from 60.3 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 60.1 percent in July 2026.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.