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.
California
Employment snapshot
In September, California lost 9,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent. In the prior month, California added 23,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, California added 129,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 5.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. California is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, California’s private sector lost 9,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 120,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 10,600 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in California fell by 15,598, and over the past 12 months it fell by 268,956.
California’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.4 percent in September and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
California
Payroll employment
California lost 9,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, California added 23,100 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. California is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
California lost 9,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, California added 10,600 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. California is tied for 19th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+8,000) and Professional and Business Services (+4,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-9,600) and Manufacturing (-4,000).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+125,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+28,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-24,200) and Financial Activities (-16,600).
California
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 California remained unchanged at 61.4 percent in September.
California is tied for 29th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in California was 63 percent in February 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.