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.
Colorado
Employment snapshot
In September, Colorado added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Colorado lost 300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 11,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Colorado is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Colorado’s private sector added 3,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado lost 600 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Colorado fell by 6,877, and over the past 12 months it fell by 81,560.
Colorado’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.2 percent in September from 65.3 percent and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.8 percentage points.
Colorado
Payroll employment
Colorado added 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Colorado lost 300 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Colorado is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Colorado added 3,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Colorado lost 600 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Colorado is tied for 25th 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 Construction (+1,900) and Professional and Business Services (+1,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Other Services (-700).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+13,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,000) and Financial Activities (-4,500).
Colorado
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 Colorado fell to 65.2 percent in September from 65.3 percent in the prior month.
Colorado ranks 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.8 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.2 percent in September 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.