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.

Arkansas

Employment snapshot

• In June, Arkansas lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas added 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 4,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Arkansas is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Arkansas’s private sector lost 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Arkansas rose by 2,830, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,603.

• Arkansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.2 percent in June from 59.1 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Arkansas

Payroll employment

• Arkansas lost 2,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Arkansas added 500 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Arkansas is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arkansas lost 2,300 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Arkansas added 300 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Arkansas is tied for 27th 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 Manufacturing (+500) and Construction (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-1,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-1,600) and Federal Government (-1,000).

Arkansas

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 Arkansas rose to 59.2 percent in June from 59.1 percent in the prior month.

• Arkansas ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arkansas was 59.2 percent occurring in February 2026, and the 10-year low was 56.4 percent occurring in July 2021.

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