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.

Arkansas

Employment snapshot

• In July, Arkansas lost 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas lost 2,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Arkansas is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Arkansas’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Arkansas rose by 1,135, and over the past 12 months it rose by 22,895.

• Arkansas’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.2 percent in July and ranks 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Arkansas

Payroll employment

• Arkansas lost 1,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Arkansas lost 2,000 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Arkansas is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arkansas lost 1,500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Arkansas lost 2,200 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Arkansas ranks 30th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200) and Professional and Business Services (-700).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,800) and Professional and Business Services (+1,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-1,700) and Private Education and Health Services (-1,100).

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 remained unchanged at 59.2 percent in July.

• Arkansas ranks 39th 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 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.