August 2026

Released September 18, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In August, Delaware added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Delaware lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Delaware’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware lost 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Delaware fell by 705, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,943.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.9 percent in August from 58.1 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.9 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Delaware lost 400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Delaware lost 300 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2026 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-200) and Other Services (-100).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,100) and Professional and Business Services (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000).

Delaware

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 Delaware fell to 57.9 percent in August from 58.1 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 44th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 57.9 percent in August 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.