June 2026

Released July 21, 2026

Download the full PDF for Delaware

Download the summary PDF for Delaware

United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 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 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In June, Delaware added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Delaware’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Delaware fell by 978, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,389.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.4 percent in June from 58.7 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.

---

Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,600 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+600) and Professional and Business Services (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200) and Information (-100).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

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 58.4 percent in June from 58.7 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 58.4 percent in June 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.