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.
California
Employment snapshot
In July, California lost 20,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, California added 6,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, California added 112,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 5.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. California is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, California’s private sector lost 19,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 127,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 11,100 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in California fell by 52,210, and over the past 12 months it fell by 197,453.
California’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.6 percent in July from 61.8 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
California
Payroll employment
California lost 20,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, California added 6,100 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. California is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
California lost 19,100 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, California added 11,100 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. California is tied for 14th 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 Construction (+2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-15,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-7,400).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+134,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+35,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-20,000) and Federal Government (-17,000).
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 fell to 61.6 percent in July from 61.8 percent in the prior month.
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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.